How Can I Effectively Onboard a Non-Desk Employee?

You can effectively onboard non-desk employees by providing job-specific training, completing onboarding documentation, offering ongoing support, and establishing clear communication channels. By focusing on these and other factors while onboarding employees, businesses set their workforce up for success in their field-based roles.

Unfortunately, onboarding non-desk employees presents its fair share of obstacles. Due to their field-based nature, these workers are often physically distant from office phones and computers, which can cause significant difficulties throughout the onboarding process, like:

• Limited access to training materials and resources.
• Challenges in completing digital paperwork and documentation.
• Difficulty in receiving real-time updates and communication.
• Reduced visibility and supervision during the initial training phase.

This blog will delve into solutions to these common issues and equip you with onboarding strategies to conquer these hurdles, paving the way for a successful experience.

What Are the Key Factors for Successful Onboarding?

When it comes to best practices for onboarding new employees who work in the field, you should focus on key factors like clarity, enablement, and connections. In practice, you can work toward these goals by doing the following:

• Providing Job-Specific Training – To set field employees up for success, offer thorough training that directly applies to their job tasks and responsibilities. Teach practical skills, safety rules, equipment use, and the specific knowledge they need for their role.
• Including Hands-On Experience – Encourage employees to learn by doing. Give them opportunities to apply their training in real-life situations. This approach can include shadowing experienced colleagues, participating in mentorship programs, and gaining hands-on experience in the field. These experiences help build their confidence and improve their skills.
• Setting Clear Expectations and Goals – Make sure to clearly communicate what you expect from employees in terms of their performance, job duties, and specific goals they need to achieve (known as key performance indicators or KPIs). By setting measurable goals that align with the organization’s objectives, employees can understand how their work directly affects the business’s overall success.
• Offering Ongoing Support – Be there for field employees every step of the way during their onboarding. Keep the lines of communication wide open, regularly check in on their progress, and foster an environment where they feel at ease seeking assistance and sharing their valuable thoughts and ideas. With Yourco, the two-way texting platform, you and your new employees can easily text each other throughout the work day and establish a consistent line of open communication.
• Prioritizing Safety – Prioritize safety training and ensure that field employees are well-versed in safety protocols, procedures, and practices. Create a culture that values safety, where everyone actively works to prevent risks and promptly reports any safety concerns or incidents.
• Designing Streamlined Processes – Simplify administrative tasks by introducing user-friendly documentation systems, digital tools for handing in paperwork, and efficient processes for requesting equipment or materials. By using Yourco, employees can conveniently submit documents, report work hours, and request materials through effortless text messages or photo uploads.
• Recognition and Appreciation – Acknowledge and appreciate the hard work and achievements of field employees. Celebrate milestones, provide regular feedback, and recognize exceptional performance to boost employee morale and motivation.
• Continuous Improvement – Keep improving the onboarding process by regularly reviewing feedback from field employees and staying up to date with the latest industry practices. Cultivate an environment that fosters continuous improvement, empowering employees to freely express their opinions to enhance the onboarding experience.

While these elements of a successful onboarding program will look different from industry to industry, the fundamental concepts remain. With that in mind, let’s dive into the process of crafting your unique onboarding experience.

How to Create an Onboarding Process for Non-Desk Employees

To create your own effective onboarding process for non-desk employees, follow these steps:

• Assess needs and understand the unique requirements of non-desk roles. Consider factors like job responsibilities, safety protocols, field-specific knowledge, and communication methods. For example, not all non-desk employees have smartphones, meaning they can’t access email or messaging apps while out in the field. A better communication method would be SMS text messaging, which does not require a smartphone or an app to download. 
• Define clear objectives for the onboarding process. What skills, knowledge, and attitudes should new employees acquire? How will their integration into the organization be measured? 
• Develop a structured plan that includes orientation, training, documentation completion, safety training, mentorship, and ongoing support.
• Determine what paperwork and documentation you need from new employees. These may include employment forms, tax documents, safety waivers, and any industry-specific compliance requirements. 
• Design a thorough safety training program, including proper use of personal protective equipment. Cover safety protocols, emergency procedures, and any hazards employees may encounter. 
• Establish a system for feedback. Regularly review the onboarding process and seek input from new employees to identify areas for improvement and make necessary adjustments. Employees should also receive ongoing feedback to properly grow in their role and be encouraged to give feedback to help improve processes.
• Choose a reliable communication channel. Establish clear communication channels to facilitate effective communication between non-desk employees and the organization.

How to Onboard a New Team Member With Yourco

When it comes to onboarding non-desk employees, reaching them effectively and ensuring they receive important information can be a challenge. However, with Yourco’s two-way texting platform, you can streamline the process and overcome these hurdles. Through the ease of texting with Yourco, your new employees can:

• Easily connect with their trainers to seek guidance or share concerns.
• Keep in touch with management without the need for emails or being confined to a desk.
• Provide immediate feedback regarding the onboarding process.
• Ask questions in their own time as they mentally process a large amount of new job information.
• Submit hiring documentation by snapping a photo and texting it in.
• Receive scheduled tips and documents in logical sequences throughout onboarding.

With Yourco, onboarding non-desk employees becomes a smoother and more straightforward process, promoting effective communication, timely information sharing, and a positive onboarding experience. Schedule a demo today or try for free to see how it all works!