The rise of remote and hybrid working
With remote work and hybrid work becoming more common in today’s ‘new normal’, employees are constantly looking for remote or hybrid work opportunities. Remote working and hybrid work arrangements have now become an extremely attractive advantage and are almost essential for attracting and retaining talent.
In fact, according to a study by GoodHire, 68% of US workers prefer remote work to work in the office [1]† In addition, 61% percent would take a pay cut to continue working remotely, and 45% percent would either quit or look for a remote position if they were forced to return to their office full-time.
Further findings show that 85% of these U.S. workers would rather apply for jobs that offer remote work opportunities, and only 15% would apply for a full-time, in-office position. Finally, 74% believe that organizations that do not provide remote working capabilities will fail to acquire, attract and retain staff talent [1]†
Additional data also shows the widespread prevalence of remote and hybrid work arrangements. 70% of organizations said they planned to adopt the hybrid working model, according to a May 2021 study from Mercer [2]† A recent Gallup poll shows that 45% of full-time employees in the US work from home, and 74% of professionals believe remote working will become the new standard [3]† As more and more organizations go remote, they must address new challenges and concerns around one of the most important factors in employee retention: a structured, exemplary onboarding process.
Remote Onboarding: Essential Considerations
A strategic, successful and excellent onboarding process is critical to employee retention and engagement in any organization, and the statistics show this. 69% of new hires are more likely to stay with an organization after three years if their onboarding experience was exemplary [4]† New hires who participate in an organized onboarding program are 58% more likely to join the company after three years. A thorough onboarding process can also improve productivity by more than 70%, according to research from Glassdoor.
Yet so many companies fail to make a strong first impression on new team members, negatively impacting retention and costing these organizations additional time and money. Only 12% of employees fully agree that their company is doing “great work” with onboarding, according to a Gallup poll [5]† Employee turnover can be as high as 50% in the first 18 months of employment, according to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) [6]† SHRM also estimates that it takes an average company six to nine months of an employee’s salary to find, hire, and onboard someone to replace that employee. [7]†
Onboarding new employees is difficult enough in a personal, personal office environment, but now companies are faced with the added logistical challenge of onboarding employees with remote or hybrid work arrangements effectively and efficiently. However, there is a clear opportunity for companies to onboard, engage and retain talent by leveraging a proven resource: eLearning.
eLearning: Definition, Benefits and Benefits
According to the Association for Talent Development, eLearning is “a structured course or learning experience delivered electronically. It can also contain performance-supporting content. There are also many different elements that make up an e-learning program, such as live or pre-recorded lecture content, videos, quizzes, simulations, games, activities and other interactive elements [8]†
The benefits and advantages of eLearning are obvious. According to a Brandon Hall Group study, eLearning typically takes 40% to 60% less employee time than learning in a traditional classroom setting [9]† And every cent spent on eLearning results in a $30 increase in output, according to a 2020 research report from Facts and Factors.
In addition, 72% of companies say eLearning helps them maintain a competitive advantage by keeping abreast of technological changes. 42% of companies say eLearning has improved revenue, and eLearning increases retention rate by 25-60% [9]†
eLearning for onboarding: an intuitive solution
Given the obvious benefits of eLearning, it’s obvious that custom eLearning videos can help organizations effectively and efficiently welcome and retain new hires. Custom eLearning content can be created and produced to communicate roles and responsibilities, establish expectations, convey and emphasize company culture, provide context and insight into the internal workings of the company, guide new hires through the onboarding paper and much more.
eLearning videos and modules specifically designed for onboarding provide a streamlined and standardized approach, while also ensuring organizations that the onboarding materials are adequately understood and preserved, through optional assessments and other interactive features. As workforces continue to explore remote and hybrid options, organizations would be wise to use custom eLearning content to onboard new employees, giving them a standardized and strategic point of entry into the organization while increasing engagement. and promote employee retention.
References:
[1] The state of remote working in 2021: an overview of the US workforce
[2] Most US employers with flexible work plans are opting for hybrid work, says Mercer
[3] 5 stats employers need to know about the remote workforce
[4] Don’t underestimate the importance of good onboarding
[5] Why the onboarding experience is essential for retention
[6] Hiring New Employees: Maximizing Success
[7] High turnover costs a lot more than you think
[8] What is eLearning?
[9] Facts and Statistics Revealing the Power of the eLearning Industry