Strategies from Freedom Debt Relief for Successful Employee Onboarding

Freedom Debt Relief and its parent company Freedom Financial Network have been recognized as one of the best places to work multiple times in both Phoenix and the San Francisco Bay Area. The Company understands the value of fostering a good environment for its employees right from the start. And they are not alone. In fact, numerous companies across the globe in the financial services sector are recognizing the value of employee hiring and retention. Today, Human Resources Managers in this industry are almost earning as much in salaries as the CEOs of the companies they work for.

According to one recent report, there is a growing demand for financial services beyond traditional banking. Along with this demand for services comes an increased need for employees to fill the vital roles involved. To do this successfully, a company needs top-notch, experienced HR directors who understand what it takes to hire and retain its workforce. Proper onboarding is one of these tools that, if done right, can help a company and its employees start off on the right foot together. Freedom Debt Relief recommends these strategies for successful employee onboarding.

Flexibility

More HR departments are providing flexibility in the onboarding process. They realize that overloading new employees on day one with training manuals, health insurance, compliance documents, and so on can be overwhelming. It is too much information to retain, especially when the nerves and newness of starting a new job are clouding their focus.

Also read: Output Over Hours: How to Think About Remote Workers

Instead, they have created a more flexible onboarding process. By utilizing modern day technology such as training apps and modules, they can provide new employees with opportunities to view the material on their own, in advance of their first day at work. New employees can access the information from anywhere, including a quiet room at home, where they can read or view the information free of distractions and nerves. According to Freedom Debt Relief, this also allows new employees to familiarize themselves with the company in advance of day one, allowing them to focus on their specific job in the company much sooner.

Download our eBook on Learning and Development Trends and find out how technology enables continuous learning in organizations.

Utilizing Technology

In addition to providing basic company information, policies and procedures in advance, Freedom Debt Relief also recommends presenting the information in a high-tech. format There are so many different types of technology available today to create a more memorable onboarding experience.

Instead of the old PowerPoint presentations that tend to make even the most interesting of topics dull, HR departments are now utilizing high-tech tools such as gamification, apps, and explainer videos loaded with visually appealing animation and graphics.

This type of technology keeps new employees engaged, interested, and most importantly, awake, while they are learning about the company, its mission, and their role in it. Since 65 percent of all learners are visual learners, it is highly beneficial for human resources managers to incorporate visually appealing technology into onboarding.

Engagement

A staggering 22 percent of all employee turnover happens in the first 45 days. So, first impressions are important. At Freedom Debt Relief, the company culture is contagious, and employees sense the enthusiasm all around from day one on the job.

Also read: The Cost of Not Focusing on Employee Engagement is Higher Than Ever

While new employees do need to review handbooks, fill out the insurance paperwork, and learn the proper procedures for requesting time off, they are probably not focused on these types of things on their first day of work. More likely, they want to know how to get around the building, where to find the copy or supply room, and who to ask when they have a question relevant to their role in the company.

An onboarding trend that has been successful for engagement is taking a tour of the office. HR staff will walk the new employees around, introduce them to the people they need to know and show them the various departments of the company. This is engaging, interesting, and extremely helpful.

Successful onboarding can lead to increased employee retention if done right. Because of the growing demands for new employees in the financial services sector, hiring an HR director who “gets” this is important, and one of the many reasons top-notch HR heads can demand CEO-level salaries these days.