Help – I’m too busy to train my new employees!

Dear Aunty B,

I’ve just hired two new employees for my small graphic design business. Before this, my only other staff were two long-term colleagues and my wife! As such, I have never really had to train or induct employees. One week in and I realise I don’t have time to do much beyond show them where the fridge and microwave is. How important is a proper induction? Can I just assume they’ll pick things up?

Brad,

Melbourne

Dear Brad,

As a business owner, it is wise to never assume anything – especially when it comes to new staff.

Let me be blunt, if you cut corners when on-boarding, you are going to create some headaches down the track. Jess Klein at wattsnext HR, an expert in recruitment, recently shared some interesting thoughts on the topic.

“If you are not going to on-board properly you might as well not even recruit, because you will either end up with a disengaged employee not reaching their full potential or they will leave within the first six months,” she said in her blog.

“Say see you later to all that money you shovelled into the recruitment process and hello to a loss in productivity and morale amongst your remaining employees.”

On-boarding doesn’t have to be a snooze-fest that saps the time of both you and your new employees. While going through policies and procedures, why don’t you try a few quick exercises within your workload to make the on-boarding time work for you?

Think about the time you do spend smartly. Ask yourself, how do you want our new starter feeling after their first day or week at work and what is the best medium to demonstrate this information? And if you can’t personally carve out time for on-boarding, can you pass this task on to one of your other employees?

As far as your resources go, they are well spent creating a strong relationship with your new staff.

Be smart,

Your Aunty B