An effective onboarding process is crucial for building a strong, productive, and loyal workforce. A structured plan based on proven onboarding best practices helps new hires acclimate to your culture, equips them with the tools they need to succeed, and increases retention while reducing turnover.
At Bene-Care, we know that first impressions matter. Implementing onboarding best practices ensures your new employees start their journey feeling supported, informed, and connected.
Onboarding should begin before your new hire’s first day. Preboarding keeps them engaged, builds excitement, and reduces first-day anxiety. At a minimum, send a welcome email that includes:
An onboarding schedule
A digital copy of the employee handbook
Key HR paperwork (e.g., tax forms, direct deposit)
A message introducing your company’s mission and values
Pro tip: Send a small welcome gift, like a mug or branded notebook, to reinforce company culture and make them feel part of the team even before they walk in the door.
As our Senior HR Coordinator, Maggie Doud, shared in Episode 1 of our HCM Insights Series:
“You can send them a note or a little package with some company swag. It helps them feel like, ‘I really do belong here.’”
Avoid spending the entire day on paperwork. Instead, create a Day One experience that is both informative and engaging:
Assign a task on day one that builds confidence and contributes value (e.g., system login setup, short self-intro for the team, or review of the mission statement)
Set up their workspace with login credentials, resources, and a personal note
Host a team lunch or welcome meeting
Offer a tour or virtual walkthrough of the office
Share your company’s history, mission, and goals
As Maggie stated in our onboarding best practices video:
“This helps build confidence and makes new employees feel useful from the start.”
Pairing new employees with a workplace buddy creates instant connection. The buddy should be approachable, positive, and familiar with the company’s culture, processes, and team dynamics.
They’ll answer questions, check in regularly, and help the new hire adjust with less anxiety.
Expose new hires to different departments so they understand how teams collaborate. A marketing hire, for example, may benefit from spending time with the sales team to better understand the customer journey.
This cross-functional exposure enhances their understanding of the company’s bigger picture and builds stronger interdepartmental relationships. It also aligns with onboarding best practices that emphasize collaboration and connection.
From day one, let new hires know what success looks like. Share:
Specific performance goals
Clear timelines and deliverables
Examples of what high performance has looked like in the past
Clarifying goals from the beginning is a critical part of effective onboarding best practices. Regular check-ins allow you to adjust expectations as needed, provide feedback, and keep them motivated.
Culture shouldn’t be a buzzword—it should be experienced. Share stories that reflect your values, introduce key people who embody them, and invite new hires into traditions or activities that express your identity.
By actively including new hires in your culture, you foster belonging and loyalty.
Don’t stop after week one. Use 30-, 60-, and 90-day check-ins to:
Provide ongoing feedback
Assess training needs
Answer questions
Recognize early wins
Gather feedback on their experience
Extending onboarding best practices beyond the first week strengthens engagement and supports long-term success.
A well-structured onboarding program:
Increases employee retention and satisfaction
Speeds up productivity
Strengthens your company culture
Builds trust and long-term engagement
At Bene-Care, we help organizations design onboarding best practices that support long-term growth and employee well-being. Whether you’re growing quickly or fine-tuning your HR processes, we’re here to help you build a program that works.
Check out our short video featuring Maggie’s experience and insights. Learn what truly makes a new hire feel welcome, supported, and ready to thrive.
Don’t leave onboarding to chance. A structured, thoughtful process built on onboarding best practices transforms your new hires into long-term contributors and ambassadors for your brand.
Contact Bene-Care today to start building an onboarding program that sets your people—and your business—up for success.
Email our HR experts at hr@bene-care.com
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