With new employment legislation being consulted on statutory probationary periods, we look at how you can ensure you have perfected the art of recruiting, onboarding and retaining top talent.
The first few weeks or months of an individual’s employment is daunting, but when managed well, it can foster a sense of belonging, clarity and enthusiasm. When handled poorly, it can leave new hires feeling disconnected and lost before they’ve had a change to contribute meaningfully.
Great Places To Work are big believers in the importance of a positive probationary period. Here we look at some simple steps good employers swear by in order to ensure a new hire is a success.
First impressions count:
-Start the process before the new joiner is on board. Create a positive first impression of a workplace which is organised, inclusive and supportive.
-Make people feel welcome from the acceptance stage to make day one less daunting, this could be by including a new employee in any social events pre-start-date.
Engage the team:
- Make sure the line manager is engaged from the outset. Set up introductory meetings internally and ensure the starter’s colleagues and manager are able to spend time with new employees in their first few days.
- Some organisations might provide a buddy to help them to integrate and understand processes and team culture.
- Set out clear expectations and feedback:
- A good induction sets the right tone and helps them to hit the ground running. Structuring the first week and setting expectations early by outlining goals and scheduling regular check-ins shows care towards an employee’s success in order to make staff feel valued and invested in.
- Create an environment where employees will feel able to bring new ideas and provide reverse feedback through strucured reviews. Use this as an opportunity to acknowledge success, show appreciation and recognise efforts.
Above all, remember a well-managed probation period is not just about evaluating performance; it’s an opportunity to set the tone for a productive, engaged and happy team member which in turn fosters a great corporate culture and retention of top talent.