Starting Off on the Right Foot
Hiring continues to be challenging for most eyecare professionals. Referring to The Vision Council’s just-released Provider inSights Q4 2023 report, Vlad Gupan, the Council’s research manager, says, “Hiring continues to be a weak point for eyecare practices, emerging as the biggest challenge in the final quarter of 2023. Unfortunately, surveyed providers do not expect to see positive changes to hiring in 2024.”
Tip: A good onboarding program will increase new hire retention by 50% and team productivity by 62%.
That’s only part of the problem, according to Jobvite, a recruiting and software company based in Indiana. Considering that one-third of new hires resign within 90 days, reports Jobvite, retention is obviously a key challenge as well.
Importance of Onboarding
One way to reduce that quit rate is to make sure you have a great onboarding program that begins the moment someone is hired. It doesn’t just help your business run smoother. It also increases revenue. As reported by Jobvite, a good onboarding program will increase new hire retention by 50% and boost team productivity by 62%.
To help make sure that all-important first week is a success, here are five tips from Workful, an HR company based in Augusta, GA.
1. IMPRESSION. Make a great impression from the start—beginning with meeting the new hire when they get to your location for their first day of work. Give them a tour and introduce them to your team, followed by lunch with one of their new coworkers. Be sure to review responsibilities and discuss job expectations.
One-third of new hires will resign within 90 days of joining a company.
2. CHECKLIST. Use and share an onboarding checklist that includes the top tasks you want them to accomplish during their first week. That serves two purposes. According to Workful, “A checklist will give your new employee a clear idea of what is expected of them that first week and can provide an early sense of accomplishment as they complete each task.”
3. CORRECT + LISTEN. Address and correct errors immediately, but also listen. “If you see them doing things in a way that you don’t approve,” stresses Workful, “be sure to intervene immediately. On the other hand, different perspectives can lead to increased efficiency and innovations in your business. Consider what your new employee can bring to the table and, if possible, utilize their prior experience to make improvements in your operation.”
4. Talk about your culture and share your mission statement. Cover the company’s history and what separates you from the competition.
5. At the end of the week, plan a short meeting to check in with the new hire. What are their first impressions? Do they need more training in certain areas? Do they have questions or concerns? Be sure to address them and, of course, to explain expectations and plans for the coming weeks and months.
What’s the most important thing you do with new hires during their first week with your company? Tell us about it and share in the conversation on Facebook here.
Erinn Morgan
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