How organisations can promote culture of openness as early as induction phase: whitepaper
Organisations are being urged to promote a culture of openness when it comes to remuneration as early as the induction phase as part of an effective onboarding process.
This is according to a whitepaper from Strategic Pay, which pointed out that talking about remuneration in the early days can be "quite difficult" for employees.
"Be proactive and make it easy for them - it should be a standard part of the induction process and covered off just like any other organisational policy or process," the paper said. "Aim for 'no surprises' when it comes to remuneration and promote a culture of openness."
According to the paper, employers should take the time to explain the different components of new hires' remuneration package.
"If you have a grading/banding or other internal remuneration structure, then explain why they're starting at a particular level, and what the process and timeframes are for this to be reviewed," the paper said.
"If applicable to your organisation, it's also a good idea to explain how career pathways/promotions work, so they have some initial information on what future opportunities could exist."
The paper offered the suggestion as it underscored how the induction phase is the "excellent opportunity" to educate new hires on the organisation's Total Reward proposition.
"The induction and onboarding phase is a great opportunity to impart knowledge whilst also getting to know each other, and therefore helps to build relationships," the paper read.
Once the induction phase is complete, the paper encouraged organisations to "keep the momentum going with onboarding."
This can last for at least the first few months, the paper noted.
"During this time, new starters need to be supported to set up any KPIs or goals, and the manager needs to be transparent about how these are linked through to incentive pay and/or other types of performance management systems," it said.
The onboarding phase is the process of familiarising employees with the requirements of their position, as well as the organisational policies, structure, and culture.
"Effective onboarding will ensure the employee can do their job successfully with the right tools and resources on hand, build trust and confidence, and ultimately create engagement," the paper said. "Eliminating or fast-tracking onboarding with minimal ongoing support is not ideal, yet it often happens."
Read more on how to make the onboarding process effective in this whitepaper from Strategic Pay.
