Onboard a Process

Formal procedures for training and orienting new labor can increase employee retention.

- By Cassidy Walter Business Management Editor

In my career, I've never worked on a farm.

But I’ve frequently worked somewhere with a vacancy. Whether in an office or on a farm, I imagine the strain of being understaffed is the same. You want that vacancy filled and the new person brought up to speed as soon as possible. Shannon Sand, agricultural economics Extension educator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said a formal onboarding process can help. Sand has expertise in risk management, strategic planning, business planning, and finance. She said research shows having an onboarding process for employees increases productivity by more than 70%, and retention by 82%.

Onboarding Basics

1. A Warm Welcome