Starting a new job can be a stressful experience for employees, but it shouldn’t prove to be too taxing. It’s a brave new world with new challenges and mysteries – it is reason enough to cause nervousness. This is why organizations should create an onboarding process that is smooth enough for the new employee and seamless for HR workers.

Yet many businesses struggle with onboarding. The process is either not efficient, too slow, or lacks the personal touch that can put recruits at ease. In this article, we’ve identified 5 of the most common onboarding problems.

1. Lack of Job Clarity

Most job descriptions don’t give detailed instructions to what the employee’s new role is going to be. This can be a problem when employees realize that their expectations of the role are conflicting with the role they accepted 30 days ago. This can result in a high turnover rate which results in a lose-lose situation for both employee and employer alike.

2. Taking on Too Many Challenges

Some new employees are willing to take too many responsibilities too quickly in an effort to impress their new bosses. While this is admirable and doable a few dozen times, it is not realistically possible to deliver an insurmountable amount of work day in and day out. This will result in burnout that could tarnish their quality of work. It is the role of supervisors to prevent work overload for employees.

3. Overloaded with Information on the First Day

Most employees will be extremely nervous on their first day of work. The last thing they need is to be overloaded with too much information at the same time. It could be filling out a large amount of workload in a short period of time. A good alternative is to automat eth onboarding paperwork with electronic solutions that not only free up time for your employee but also your HR task.

Automated paperwork allows employees to complete their paperwork anytime, anywhere, and from their choice of device. Filling up important documentation doesn’t have to be difficult than it already has to be.

4. Not tracking Key Information

One of the most essential aspects of onboarding is keeping up with the right paperwork. This requires diligent record keeping that most companies simply do not have the time for. Many HR processes are time sensitive and missing information can further delay the onboarding process.

Think of the sheer number of documents you have to stay on top of including WOTC, policy acknowledgements, benefits form, and more. This is why your HR department should keep track of all documentation and keep them handy in case an auditor decides to knock your door and ask for specific documents.

5. Fear of Not Getting Along with Coworkers

Aside from the challenge of doing their regular job, new employees are worried about how they are perceived by their coworkers. This social aspect of onboarding can be particularly nerve-wracking. Failing to get along with others plays a crucial role in productivity and engagement levels. This problem can be solved by having the manager or supervisor personally oversee the employee’s transition into their new role.

Onboarding programs help create a smooth transition into a new role. Make sure to avoid the above challenges and solve them amicably before they become a full blown problem. Talk to our consultants now to see if your Onboarding process needs some fine tuning.