Monday was a new employee’s first day. Their desk was ready, their computer was set up, and they had already met some of their new coworkers. Everything seemed to be off to a good start.
There was just one problem. They couldn’t log into anything.
Their email account wasn’t ready yet. They didn’t have access to the shared drive, and several of the programs they needed still required accounts to be created. Someone had to contact IT, another employee had to figure out which programs they needed, and several emails and phone calls followed.
Instead of spending their first day learning about the business and getting started, the new employee spent much of the morning waiting for their technology to be ready.
Nothing had necessarily gone wrong. The business simply didn’t have a clear process for getting new employees set up before their first day.
What Is the Problem?
Employee on-boarding involves more than introducing someone to the team and showing them their desk. Most employees need access to several different systems before they can start doing their jobs.
That could include email, shared files, business software, communication tools, customer information, and other applications. Depending on the employee’s position, they may need access to even more systems.
As a business grows, keeping track of all these accounts can become difficult. New software gets added, employees change positions, and different departments have different needs. Without a consistent process, setting up a new employee can quickly become a last-minute scramble.
There is also a security side to consider. Giving a new employee access to everything may seem like the easiest option, but it can create unnecessary risks. Employees should have access to the information they need to do their jobs, without automatically having access to everything else.
A good on-boarding process helps answer these questions before the employee arrives. What equipment will they need? Which programs should they have access to? Who is responsible for setting up their accounts? What information should they be able to access?
When those questions are answered ahead of time, the employee can walk in on their first day ready to work.
The Business Takeaway: A Good First Day Starts Before the First Day
First impressions matter. A new employee’s first day is also their first real look at how a business operates.
If their computer isn’t ready or their accounts haven’t been created, it can create frustration for everyone. The new employee can’t get started, and other employees have to stop what they’re doing to help solve the problem.
It can also affect productivity. If an employee spends several hours waiting for access to the systems they need, that’s time they aren’t able to spend learning their new role or helping the business.
A good on-boarding process doesn’t have to be complicated. It just needs to be consistent.
Having a checklist can help make sure the important steps aren’t forgotten. That could include preparing a computer, creating an email account, setting up software, assigning the right permissions, and making sure the employee can securely access the files they need.
When those steps are handled ahead of time, the employee can focus on learning their new job instead of waiting for technology.
Making IT Work for Your Business
For many small and midsize businesses, employee on-boarding can be difficult because there isn’t always a dedicated IT person handling everything. The responsibility may fall on a manager, office administrator, or another employee who already has plenty on their plate.
That’s when things can get missed.
Maybe the email account gets created but the employee doesn’t have access to the shared drive. Maybe their computer is ready, but they are missing an important software program. These small issues can add up quickly.
That’s where CatchMark Technologies can help. We can help businesses create a more organized process for setting up new employees. This can include managing computers, accounts, software, and access.
We can also help make sure employees have the access they need without giving them access to information that isn’t necessary for their job. This can help improve both productivity and security.
The goal is simple. When a new employee walks through the door, their technology should be ready for them.
Is Your on-boarding Process Ready?
Think about the next employee your business hires. If they started tomorrow, would you know exactly what they need and who is responsible for setting everything up?
Or would the process involve several emails and phone calls while everyone tries to figure things out?
If every new employee has a different on-boarding experience, it may be time to create a more consistent process.
Contact CatchMark Technologies today to learn how we can help simplify employee on-boarding, manage technology access, and make sure your new employees have the tools they need from day one.
At CatchMark Technologies, we help people and solve problems. Our goal is to make technology easier for your business so your employees can spend less time waiting for access and more time doing what they were hired to do.
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