Effective Onboarding – A Genuine Team Effort!

Posted on August 1, 2024 by Anne Viscuso and Maria Lesniak, Talent Acquisition Division, Department of Human Resources
Tags: county connection hiring
Effective Onboarding – A Genuine Team Effort!

Happy August! We are in the dog days of summer but that’s not stopping us from welcoming dynamic new talent to our County of Henrico family. We’re thrilled to be working with departments on successful onboarding and look forward to keeping the momentum going in FY25!

Once hired, successful onboarding is key to making new employees feel welcome and prepared. It is an important part of the hiring process and lays a foundation for long-term success. It can improve productivity, build loyalty and engagement, and help employees become successful early in their careers. A partnership between Human Resources, the hiring team, and other members of the department is essential during onboarding.

Onboarding is the comprehensive process of integrating new employees into an organization, which involves management and other employees, and can span one or two days of activities or in some cases, months. It includes the orientation process and opportunities for new hires to learn about the organization’s structure, culture, vision, mission and values. (SHRM)

The infographic below offers a basic framework to help departments smoothly integrate new hires into the team. (Click on the image to open a PDF)

While there are some logistical requirements specific to Henrico County, employee onboarding truly is a team effort. Hiring managers are responsible for the administrative tasks, but it takes the whole team to make new employees feel welcome, and we encourage departments to be creative with onboarding experiences.

Some thoughtful ideas, which exemplify “The Henrico Way” of leading with heart, thinking outside the box, and leadership at all levels, are noted below.

 

  • Decorate their workspace
  • Place flowers on their desk
  • Assign a mentor or buddy
  • Arrange introductions and a tour
  • Organize a team breakfast or lunch

 

We hope this information will provide context and serve as a valuable resource. A successful onboarding process is truly a team effort. From handling the essential paperwork to setting up their workspace, equipping them with the right tools, and introducing them to the department, every step contributes to making a new employee feel welcome and prepared.

 

Our personalized approach lays the foundation for creating lasting impressions on new employees, fostering a great workplace environment in Henrico County.