In just a few years, working patterns have changed significantly in Nigeria and other parts of the world, ushering in an era where remote and hybrid models have become the new norm across industries (especially tech startups). However, this change isn’t just about where work happens; it’s also about how organizations bring new employees into the fold, through virtual means. This is where remote employee onboarding comes in.

In this blog, we’ll discuss what remote onboarding is and highlight 5 proven strategies that HR and people managers in Nigeria can leverage for successful remote employee onboarding. 

What Is Remote Employee Onboarding?

Remote employee onboarding is the process of integrating new employees into an organization’s culture, operations, and workflows when they are not physically present in the workplace. It involves leveraging digital technologies and communication platforms to familiarize new hires with the company’s values, tools, and team dynamics, as well as the scope of their roles. 

Navigating employee onboarding can be challenging, and it gets even trickier when done remotely. To steer you through this process, we've crafted 5 tried-and-tested remote onboarding tips.

5 Tips for An Effective Remote Employee Onboarding

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1. Prepare Employees with Pre-boarding
   Pre-boarding refers to the activities that take place between the time a new hire accepts a job offer and their first day of employment. It’s essentially laying the groundwork for a seamless beginning. 
   
   During this stage, you need to ensure that the employee is well-equipped to navigate their new role. This includes providing them with access to their work email, the organization’s communication platforms, task or project management tools, and even learning materials that will pave their way to success. It’s important to resolve any access issues to prevent unnecessary stress on day one. 
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2. Encourage A Steady Start
   Many organizations, particularly startups, advocate for the "hit the ground running" approach. However, this tends to overwhelm new hires and might set them up for failure. Rather than pressuring them to adapt quickly, it's essential to set a healthy pace for their onboarding. 
   
   The onboarding process should span at least 3 weeks, with the last week reserved for specialized team and role-specific training. They should have enough time to get used to the new culture, tools, and workflows. This strategy ensures they start off on the right foot, feeling comfortable, connected, and confident.
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3. Foster Connection Through Personalized Meetings
   To help your new team member blend right in, prepare a list of the key stakeholders that they will work closely with. Then, set up individual meetings for the employee to get to know each of them. These one-on-one sessions will give your new hire the chance to ask questions and build rapport without the pressure of trying to memorize everyone's names and roles at once. 
   
   Once the individual sessions are done, arrange a team meeting specially for the onboarding. This ensures your new hire steps into a circle of familiar faces, instantly cultivating a sense of belonging, and it also helps them grasp the bigger picture – how everyone's roles connect – with ease. 
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4. Assign An Onboarding Buddy and Mentor
   Generally, new hires are assigned a buddy during onboarding. However, we believe a two-pronged approach – a mentor and a buddy – works best. 
   
   An onboarding buddy should be someone who can take their time to guide the new hire through the nitty-gritty of the onboarding process and ensure that they settle into their role smoothly. A mentor, on the other hand, should be someone in a senior position (ideally in the same department), ready to share their wisdom and expertise. The mentorship relationship should last beyond onboarding, nurturing the new hire's progress in your organization. 
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5. Ensure Open Lines of Communication
   Creating a culture of open communication and frequent check-ins is crucial for keeping your new hires (and employees in general) engaged and motivated. This also helps to speed up the onboarding process and ensure that everyone remains in sync about what’s expected and where the organization is headed, at all times.
   

Bonus Tip: 

6. Send A Welcome Package
   Elevate the remote onboarding experience by adding a touch of thoughtfulness and personalization. Consider curating and sending warm welcome packages with company merch and personalized gifts to give new hires a taste of the company's culture from the start. This gesture will instantly make new hires feel like part of the team and make the journey more enjoyable.

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Leveraging an employee benefits management platform like Motherboard empowers you to distribute customized benefits packages, whether it's a one-time treat or a recurring offering, to your distributed team. This means that, no matter where your employees are based, they can easily access their perks. 

Download Your FREE Remote Employee Onboarding Checklist