The Real Reason Caregivers Drop Out of the Onboarding Process

Poor onboarding is a major cause of caregiver turnover, which is why it is crucial to get your new caregivers started off on the right foot. Ineffective onboarding costs agencies money, time, and resources. The new caregiver may not become as productive and proficient as quickly as they would have with effective onboarding. “While onboarding is a critical component of setting new employees up for success from day one, some companies are neglecting fundamentals in the onboarding process – and running into serious consequences that can impact the bottom line,” Rosemary Haefner, Chief Human Resources Officer at CareerBuilder, said in a statement.This raises the question: What fundamentals are imperative to have in a successful onboarding program? This article will outline the fundamentals that need to be in place to promote onboarding completion, and address why many caregivers are dropping out of the onboarding process. 

Don’t Delay It

Caregivers should feel that their transition into the agency is a priority. Onboarding should start on the caregiver’s first day to ensure that everything goes smoothly and that they feel like a valued member of the team. Too often, onboarding is seen as a task primarily focused on payroll and tax information. While this is an essential step in the onboarding process and is required by law, this is not the heart of the onboarding process. Creating the connection between the agency and the caregiver can increase the motivation for completing all required onboarding tasks.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

For most agencies, there is one single onboarding process that every new hire participates in. However, it is important to realize that not all staff need the same information. Agencies have to balance delivering a consistent onboarding experience for different personas. Determine where the new caregivers are as far as experience and tailor their onboarding to fit that. Relearning the same material that is already known can potentially make the onboarding process less tempting to finish. 

Unclear Goals and Expectations

New caregivers need to know that the agency is invested in helping them achieve their goals professionally. Many agencies neglect to use onboarding to set clear development goals. Once onboarding is completed, caregivers should have a clear understanding of their role, company policies, and options for mobility within their role.

Use Technology 

If you have a Learning Management System (LMS), use it! Learning Management Systems typically have the capability of automatically assigning courses to the new hire when they are added to the system. showd.me is an LMS that has the capability to allow customized modules for each employee to complete within a specified time window. The modules can be completed on a mobile device, desktop computer, or a laptop. This ensures that all modules can be completed with ease.

In the first few days of a caregivers time with your agency, they should feel that they are a valued part of the company culture. Onboarding processes should make new hires feel empowered to reach their full potential within the agency. To get more information on how showd.me can help your company with its onboarding process, request a demo here.