How can you best support people new to the workplace when they are remote?

When the first lockdown was announced in the UK, it was expected to be for 12 weeks and we would “send Coronavirus packing”. 1051 days later, things have not quite turned out like that and as a result all of our lives have changed. Many workplaces have people working remotely.

Huge numbers of people have changed jobs or joined the workforce since then. How do you support someone who is not regularly in an office?

• How would you support a new person if you were both in an office? How could you do those things remotely?
• Do they have the option/ability to meet people in the office periodically?
• Does their work require them to work alongside others or is it work they largely do alone?

My top tips:

• Set up an onboarding template (I use Trello) which includes any information a new person will need for the first few weeks. Update the master every time something new comes up.
• Assign the new person a buddy. Ideally someone who does a similar job but not necessarily, it should not be their boss. This person will be their go to person for any questions they have and will check in with them daily at least.
• Use a remote working platform so that people can be in a virtual office together and contact each other easily, have quick drop by meetings etc.
• Have a cadence of short effective meetings to keep everyone on track.
• Set up a series of 1:1s with the new starter and set it up as a positive psychologically safe relationship.

What other ideas do you have?

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