Gen Y is changing new hire orientation

The typical new employee orientation process - HR gives you a new name badge, hands you a copy of the benefits package, helps you fill out some tax forms, gives you a PowerPoint overview of the company and makes sure you’re settled in your new cube just in time for lunch.

New hires, especially those from Generation Y, are demanding much more than that if you’re planning on keeping them around for more than a few months.

Millenials and Gen Y employees have a desire to feel welcomed and want to know more about their jobs even before they show up for work, according to a recent article in Minnesota’s StarTribune.

The article, noting that “your grandfather’s orientation program won’t cut it anymore,” outlines a new process companies are using with new hires called ‘onboarding.’

Onboarding: the process companies use to introduce, train, integrate and coach new hires on the company’s culture and method.

Gen Y and Millenial employees entering the workforce have sparked the onboarding trend, because of their special needs in the workplace. This new process involves a more complete welcoming process than companies have practiced before.

With younger employees, companies need to reinforce that the new employee has made the best decision by sharing how valuable their skills are to the company, the assignments they will be working on, and what developmental steps they should expect within the year.

Gen Y expects that everything should be ready when they arrive to work on their first day. This means having a computer ready to go at their desk, completely set up with an email account and all of the programs they will be using.

They also expect constant feedback from their managers. Managers should set up a system with the new hire for regular check-in times on work progress. New Gen Y employees should also be given an office mentor to help ease the transition into the new company culture.

Remember that any new hire orientation won’t fit into the four hours from the time they arrive until lunchtime. Make employee onboarding an ongoing process.

Acclimating a new employee isn’t always an easy process. Some employees, especially members of younger generations, need a little more help than older employees. With a little time and effort, new employee orientation can be a rewarding experience for both employee and company.