Onboarding

Onboarding is the process of welcoming a new employee to the 91Ô­´´.Ìý A comprehensive onboarding program begins at the moment of an employment offer and lasts through the first twelve months of employment. Thoughtful and intentional onboarding sets the new hire up for success, accelerates employee engagement and reduces turnover.Ìý

This site provides managers with resources and best practices for an effective onboarding program.ÌýÌýÌýÌý

Onboarding has two components:Ìý

  • ±õ²Ô²õ³Ù¾±³Ù³Ü³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô²¹±ôÌý°¿²Ô²ú´Ç²¹°ù»å¾±²Ô²µ: This is completed by Human Resources. New employees complete their new hire paperwork, review benefit offerings, understand parking options, obtain their ÌýONEcard, attend new employee orientation and more. Review the Full-Time Employee Onboarding GuideÌýfor a complete overview.Ìý

  • Departmental Onboarding: This is completed in the unit where the new employee works. Departments help new employees understand their roles, expectations, departmental and university structures and more. This aspect is critical to ensuring the employee feels supported and connected to their work, colleagues, department and the university.Ìý

The four categories of departmental onboarding

Commence: Create a solid foundation for your new employee by discussing responsibilities, setting expectations and introducing them to their new role.ÌýÌý

Connect: Immerse your new employee into the organization and support them in building interpersonal relationships, creating awareness of organizational and knowledge networks, and establishing performance goals.Ìý

Ìý

Culture: Share with your new employee the intricacies of the 91Ô­´´, our rich history, and the way we operate.Ìý

Commit: Invest in your employee’s success by connecting with them regularly, giving them a platform to share progress and providing them with meaningful performance feedback.ÌýÌý

Suggested onboarding practices by timeframe

Preboarding is the time period between when a candidate accepts their job offer and their first day of employment.ÌýConnecting with your new hire during this time can help jumpstart your relationship and allow the employee to feel informed and engaged before starting work.Ìý Ìý

Commence

Order technology and arrange for set up.Ìý Ìý

  • Contact your local IT representative to book a time to set up equipment. If you do not have an assigned representative, email askit@udel.edu for coordination.

Connect

Pre-schedule 1:1 meetings throughout the employee’s first month of employment for the employee to meet with colleagues.

  • Schedule meetings with unit leaders for formal introductions and the opportunity to explain the function of their unit and how the employee interacts with them.
  • Schedule meetings with the employee’s direct peer group for informal introductions/get-to-know-you conversations.
  • Use a meeting calendar template to track scheduled meetings and provide them to an employee on their first day.
    • Ensure that New Employee Orientation, which takes place the second Wednesday of each month on Zoom, is on the schedule to avoid conflicts.Ìý
    • Consider that your employee’s onboarding appointment may be on their first day of employment. Confirm these details with HR as you work to finalize the schedule.Ìý

Culture

Set up system access and schedule training.ÌýÌýÌý

  • Examples: Concur, Procurement, WebEx, 91Ô­´´SIS, Tableau, Slack, Teams, scheduling conference rooms, etc.ÌýÌý

Commit

Pre-schedule 1:1 meetings with your new employee.Ìý

  • Set up a recurring calendar invitation to formalize the meetings.Ìý

  • Establish expectations for your meetings. Consider the following:ÌýÌý

    • What topics will be covered?ÌýÌý

    • How/should these meetings be memorialized?Ìý

    • Does the employee need to prepare anything ahead of time?ÌýÌý

    • Is your meeting long enough to allow ample time for both parties to provide updates?ÌýÌý

The first 30 days are when the employee should focus on learning about their job responsibilities, the team structure, their co-workers, and the organization.  ÌýÌý

Consider the following activities with your new hire on their first day:

  • Provide a tour of the office and/or building in which the employee works, Ìýpointing out the closest restroom, refrigerator, water station, microwave, etc.Ìý
  • Point out the nearest parking options and campus shuttle stops
  • Introduce your employee to any colleagues who are in the office that day
  • Arrange a first-day lunch with a few teams to welcome your new employee to the communityÌý

Commence

  • Provide the employee with their job description and meet with them to discuss their responsibilities.ÌýÌý

  • Set expectations with the employee. Suggested topics are:

    • Productivity/DeadlinesÌý

    • BehaviorÌý

    • CommunicationÌý

    • Team CollaborationÌý

  • Discuss time off procedures:Ìý

  • Coverage needed, call-out procedures, vacation request preference, etc.Ìý
  • 91Ô­´´ Workforce
    • How to submit time-off
    • Non-exempt employees: how to submit timesheetsÌý
  • Show employee

  • For employees new to higher education: Encourage employee to take CUPA’s .

Connect

  • Explain the University’s structure, leadership, mission and values.ÌýÌý

  • Review your department’s Org Chart.Ìý

    • Discuss your team’s purpose with your new employee. What is your main objective? How does your team’s mission and vision fit into 91Ô­´´â€™s strategic mission and goals? Ìý

    • Review your unit’s organizational chart and provide a high-level explanation of each department and/or role. Explain how your unit fits within the organizational structure of the entire University.  Ìý

  • Have the employee reach out to a list of additional contacts you provide for them to meet with.ÌýÌýÌý

  • Give the employee tour of the office, main street, food options and other key areas. Ask a colleague to conduct the tour, if possible, so the employee can connect with another individual.

  • Share  Ìý

  • Inform your employee of communication avenues.ÌýÌý

    • Provide a list of centralized email addresses to your employee and explain the appropriate use of each.  Ìý

    • Add your employee to all applicable list servs. Ìý

    • Forward your employee all calendar invites for any reoccurring team meetings. Ìý

  • Inform your employee of any professional affiliations or memberships available.Ìý

Culture

CommitÌý

  • Conduct 1:1 meetings

  • Set up meeting dates for 30-, 60-, 90- and 180-day check insÌý

  • Conduct 30-day check in. Here are some questions you may want to ask:Ìý

    • What do you like about the job and the organization so far?  Ìý

    • How have your interactions with the team been?Ìý

    • Have you faced any surprises since joining us?  Ìý

    • Are you experiencing any challenges that I can assist you with?  Ìý

    • Are all your technological/access need needs being met? Are there other resources you may need?Ìý

The second month of employment can be dedicated to planning. Invest in your employee’s professional growth and development from the very start. Though the entirety of the first year of employment is largely dedicated to training and fully understanding their new role, we want our new employees to know that we are invested in their growth with the organization early on. Ìý

CommenceÌý

Encourage the employee to schedule a headshot with OCM.Ìý

ConnectÌý

CultureÌý

CommitÌý

  • Conduct 1:1 meetingsÌý

  • Conduct 60-day check in. Here are some questions you may want to ask:Ìý

    • How are things going? Ìý

    • Are you connecting with your peers?   Ìý

    • How is your workload? Do you feel you have enough work to keep you busy? Ìý

    • Are there any areas where you feel you could benefit from additional support or training, or any challenges I can assist with? 

While the employee continues to understand his/her job responsibilities, the third month can be a good time to further expand the employee’s knowledge of the organization and opportunities to get involved.

ConnectÌý

  • Share committee opportunities with the employee and encourage them to get involved.Ìý

  • Encourage the employee to sign up for campus admissions tour.Ìý

CultureÌý

Commit

  • Conduct 1:1 meetingsÌý

  • Conduct 90-day performance assessment:Ìý

    • Manager and employee discuss manager's assessment of overall performance.

    • Manager shares potential opportunities for development if appropriate.

    • Employee shares comments related to overall performance and/or what would support ongoing professional development.Ìý

    • Manager and employee discuss development goals.

By now, the employee is likely conducting some responsibilities independently. Months three through six are a good time to focus on progress to date and continuing to provide meaningful feedback.

Commit

Culture

Encourage your employee to do all the items on the Blue Hen Bucket List

  • Go to a
  • Get a picture with YouDee
  • Join a committeeÌý
  • Visit 91Ô­´´airy for ice cream
  • Check a book out of the
  • Visit the in Old College
  • Visit the Magnolia Fountain on the South Green
  • Eat at a Restaurant on Main Street
  • Attend the Twilight Induction Ceremony on the Green
  • Eat a meal at

Commit