This document provides 10 tips for onboarding remote employees successfully. It recommends using a checklist to ensure all critical steps are completed. It also suggests sending a warm welcome, setting employees up with the right equipment including strong internet, matching them with a buddy, creating a memorable first day such as a virtual coffee meeting, sharing the remote work policy, changing up tasks to avoid repetition, introducing employees to other departments, gathering feedback, and making expectations clear. The tips are meant to help companies transition onboarding processes to a fully remote setup.

1. HOW TO ONBOARD
REMOTE EMPLOYEES
10 "MUST-DO'S" TO ENSURE SUCCESS
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2. This is key for remote onboarding,
since there are new or updated steps
to the process since moving from a
physical office set-up (i.e. shipping a
laptop)
A new hire checklist will help ensure you don’t
miss any critical steps in the onboarding process.
USE A CHECKLIST1.

3. A warm welcome can reinforce a
new employee’s decision to
accept your offer and set the tone
for employee engagement.
SEND A WARM WELCOME2.

4. Let your new team member know how
excited you are to have them join the
company, and encourage other employees to
reach out via Slack, Zoom, email, or LinkedIn.
SEND A WARM WELCOME2.
Did you know:
11% of people change their
minds on an offer after signing.*
*According to Jobvite

5. SET THEM UP WITH THE
RIGHT EQUIPMENT3.
Make sure to ship laptops and any IT equipment with
enough time for the new employee to set up their home
office and become comfortable with the equipment.
Companies may also choose to
provide employees with an
ongoing stipend to use toward
electricity, internet, phone, and
supplies.

6. If their WiFi signal is spotty, suggest
hard wiring the internet connection
using an extended Ethernet cable.
These are inexpensive but can be
helpful to provide.
Make sure they have a strong internet connection.
3. SET THEM UP WITH THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT

7. MATCH THEM WITH A BUDDY4.
Establishing a virtual buddy program is a great way to
help new employees acclimate to a new organization.
Buddies can help new hires learn things like
who to ask for IT support, and how other
employees use tools such as Slack and
Teams to communicate.

8. An employee’s first day is
crucial to long-term employee
engagement and retention.
CREATE A MEMORABLE FIRST DAY5.

9. For remote onboarding, consider kicking off the
day with a virtual coffee meeting.
5. CREATE A MEMORABLE FIRST DAY
Encourage your new employee’s
manager—and perhaps their entire
team—to grab a cup of coffee and
meet via Zoom.

10. Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of
employers have remote workers, yet only
43 percent have remote work policies.*
SHARE YOUR REMOTE WORK POLICY6.
If your company doesn’t already have a policy,
it’s time to write one.
*According to Upwork

11. SHARE YOUR REMOTE WORK POLICY6.
The remote work policy might include things
such as the hours you expect employees to
be available, and how remote workers can
use their stipend.
A written policy will help to avoid gray areas
and contribute to a healthier work/ life
balance when the work from home
expectations are clearly outlined.

12. As the schedule for a new hire is mapped out, put yourself in
their shoes to envision what their actual experience will be like.
CHANGE UP TASKS TO AVOID
REPETITION
7.
8 hours of Zoom training can be
exhausting, therefore it's important to
provide some variety in the onboarding
activities

13. In addition to required training, be sure to include blocks of
"free" time for new employees to read up on materials, or
familiarize themselves with different tools and resources that will
supplement their training.
CHANGE UP TASKS TO AVOID REPETITION7.

14. Allow new hires to gain exposure to every department and
help them set up 1:1 introduction meetings so they have the
chance to speak with key company stakeholders about what
they do at the company.
INTRODUCE NEW HIRES TO OTHER
DEPARTMENTS
8.
This will give them some perspective
about their role fits into the big picture.

15. These introductions will also allow them to feel
more comfortable and connected to the
company—something more important than ever
in a remote work environment.
8. INTRODUCE NEW HIRES TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS

16. New hire surveys or check-ins help companies learn what
they’ve done well in the early employee experience, and
where they could improve.
GATHER EMPLOYEE FEEDBACK9.
This can provide useful feedback to
fine-tune your onboarding experience
and keeps an open conversation
between you and the new hire.

17. When onboarding a new hire virtually, there are various physical
cues and nonverbal communication that gets lost.
MAKE EXPECTATIONS CLEAR10.
It’s especially important to clearly articulate the expectations and
goals before the new hire has to ask. Make sure they are prepared and
informed and let them know that you're available to help fill any gaps.