} Excellent Onboarding: Merger & Acquisitions Secret Weapon. Go to lots of or too many meetings? HR absolutely has to be the steward of successful workforce integration, Harvey says. For example, e-mail may be preferred in one country but not in another. When workers have more flexibility to interact and get to know their new colleagues without compromising their job, everyone can help make a new team members first day successful. This medium allows employees to make eye contact and observe facial expressions which are important in building interpersonal relationships. Create A Welcoming Environment New hires don't yet know the cultural norms at your organization. Alison Davis led Davis & Company for over 35 years setting strategic direction for the firm. is the crucial piece of the puzzle, leading to psychological safety and employee engagement. Among the workers surveyed, freedom to be yourself was more important for women than men,possibly due to a pervasive old boys club mentality in many career paths. Weaving new team members into the organizational culture can be accomplished through values sharing, cultural onboarding and a variety of other simple tactics that make your culture, their culture. and give them an incentive or reward for speaking up. If a new hire takes an interest in giving their thoughts, jump on that opportunity to congratulate them or thank them. That requires humility and courage from both sides, which explains high failure rates of these types of mergers. $("span.current-site").html("SHRM China "); WEX starts communicating with the employees of the company it plans to acquire early on, and that communication continues well past the time the acquisition is completed. To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Please log in as a SHRM member before saving bookmarks. When you're writing this announcement, avoid the corporate jargon. Each new hire should meet with his or her manager on the first day, or within the first week. Must theacquired talent be prepared to collaborate across the enterprise? The first step you can take to welcome a new employee or team member is to send them a comprehensive and detailed schedule of their first week. You may opt-out by. The answer is, of course, unknowable. On an employees first day, you dont want them to show up and not know what to do. Company leaders may offer virtual meetings with new employees as well. var currentUrl = window.location.href.toLowerCase(); Good news can have a positive effect on employees attitudes. If that isnt your way of business management, utilize your own work as a remote monitoring station for your personnel. To request permission for specific items, click on the reuse permissions button on the page where you find the item. (Source: Is the employee aware of the metrics, if any, that they must meet? Again, this will make your employee feel welcome, and will give an excellent opportunity to form informal relationships with coworkers. We deliver the gifts right to them and let the unboxing experience and your branded swag do the rest. With deliberate action and intentional inclusion, its possible for all employees to gain a sense of belonging and know they are welcome additions to the organization and team, regardless of their work setting. With your new employee missing out on the usual face-to-face welcome, it's crucial that you utilise video conferencing. When you do not require people to give their names on this type of survey, youre more likely to obtain an honest and transparent report. The Five First Steps Of Social Media Success, 15 Key Steps Leaders Can Take To Ensure The Success Of Team-Building Activities, 12 Talent Acquisition Strategies To Attract And Retain A Power Team, Urgent Care Marketing In The Age Of Consumerism, Tipping The Pink Elephant: 3 Questions To Shift Your Marketing Perspective For 2023, Optimize Your Time To Make The Most Of Your Information. Have a direct manager or someone from human resources schedule . Culture change is not a one-time event; its a process, Conrad says. Everything from novels and branded items to greeting cards can be included in the kits. 2. It was cited by 63% of employees at enterprise companies (with over 1,000 employees) compared to 59% at small businesses (with fewer than 200 employees), indicating that the average worker might feel more valued in a smaller pond. Employees are unlikely to feel at ease at work if they believe their boss is continually staring over their shoulders. The first year went great as all the low-hanging UX design fruit was plucked. Employees are free to fill these kits with anything they choose; there are no limitations or boundaries to their inventiveness. Consider developing a program where employees can nominate their colleagues for outstanding contributions to the merger or acquisition. Give them whatever they need to begin working and show them where to get more supplies should they need them. Taking a moment to look back in time creates a bond among employees and is a valuable learning experience for newer workers. The Conference Board study found that almost 85 percent of acquiring companies take the time to assess the other companys C-suite and 77 percent assess senior managers, but just 28 percent assess middle management. Employees who know they can speak their mindfeel more motivated to contribute unique ideas that go against the grain, and even command more respect from peers. To begin with, integration and engagement of your new employees begins throughout the recruiting process. The moment an acqui-hire shifts from being a possibility to being a probability, the two sides need to ask themselves and each other a straightforward question: What is the most important way theyll each have to change to make this succeed? If acquired talent gets freedom and flexibility that their legacy colleagues do not, it will breed resentment. 2. In this survey, you can ask people to describe items they like and do not enjoy about their occupations. Theyre asked to do multiple things at the same time that theyre not historically asked to do, says Dave Kompare, a partner in Aons strategic advisory practice. Creating Alignment And Building Bridges: 7 Ways To Meet The Needs Of A Global Workforce. We dont walk in assuming we know better. But the asking raises another question: is the new talent, as individuals, the sort of people who should be leading the enterprise in the long run? It was also more important to millennials than other age groups, which dovetails with the common belief thatthe millennial generation is especially individualistic. Ostensibly, young companies are acqui-hired more for their best people than for any real interest in their products, services, or ongoing operations. Topics: If not, HR professionals should adjust their plans in response. Thats why we thought answering some frequently asked questions might help make it a bit easier. Seeing new members join the organization is energizing. Knowing that welcoming and integrating employees is such a critical lever in driving engagement, how can employers and managers ensure employees are warmly and powerfully welcomed to their new organization during those crucial early days and months? For this reason, weve compiled a list of 14 ways to welcome newbies and start them off on the right foot. If the aim is to merge the cultures, leaders need to remember that cultural change doesnt happen overnight. Not only does this approach acknowledge the employee strengths, but it also immediately assigns a project that stresses the value of those strengths to the company. Dynamic Product Ads On Facebook: Why Are They So Powerful? While measuring work performance is unquestionably vital, employees must also feel trusted. Perhaps surprisingly, freedom to express opinions was generally considered most important to senior employeescited by 62% of VPs, compared to 51% of managers. In Dec 2021, we lost Alison to a five-year battle with cancer. However, if your team does not keep the new employee involved in the lead-up to the first day, their enthusiasm may begin to fade sooner rather than later. The departures left it with mediocreUX capabilities and a reputation as a dull, alienating employer of young talent. Write ideas on a whiteboard, creating a mind map of similar ideas, and have a discussion. This step is particularly important for remote employees as they dont have the same amount of communication as on-site workers. Photograph byJason Paige Smith. Though the reason isnt clear from the data, it could be becausewomen often feel undervalued at work, especially compared to their male colleagues. The Paperwork . Modern Employee Onboarding New Hires Expect. At Sedgwick, leaders of the companies being acquired are involved in developing communications to make sure they use the right approach for that particular country and culture, Browne says. Repeating and reinforcing organizational values has a positive impact on engagement, as people feel better welcomed when they understand the core of the company culture and can make values-based decisions. Have you recorded all of your expectations for that role. The first day the acquisition is completed, Flexera sends leaders to the acquired company to hand out swag, such as backpacks and water bottles. After all, if they had wanted to be employees, they would have gotten a job at a more traditional company rather than joining a startup. We are here to help you enhance your process and take it to the next level. We try to walk in the shoes of the other organization, Tinto says. Find the latest news and members-only resources that can help employers navigate in an uncertain economy. 5. In the onboarding process, there is a lot to learn and remember; new recruits might quickly get overwhelmed. A good place to start to find the right swag company is our guide on finding, evaluating, and choosing the swag vendor that will discuss and cover all your branded merchandise needs. Give them a new employee survey after 60 (or so) days. Thats why its a great icebreaker for the whole team and can make new hires feel truly part of the team. Invite Them For Lunch With The Team. Provide the performance review process right from the start so the acquired employees understand how and when they will be evaluated and what it means. And acqui-hires who believe that everything except the source of their paychecks and future equity will remain the same are similarly delusional. Introducing company values from day one or even earlier, during the interview process is critical to ensuring new team members understand the core of the company culture and have an opportunity to embrace and internalize whats most important to the organization. Gallups State of the American Workplace report mentions that organizations with a high level of engagement save money on turnover and recruiting costs, while disengaged employees are a significant contributor to high employee turnover. Nothing disorients new employees as much as showing up at a new job and realizing that they do not . Although this is a useful concept, workers do not need individual cubicles to be productive. $("span.current-site").html("SHRM MENA "); Partnering up with a swag company is important in order for you to create, source, and distribute promotional products thatll generate buzz around your business and promote it efficiently. There are a lot of really simple, creative things you can do to make sure that you're setting employees up for success right off the bat. 6. Incorporate those components through interactive first-day onboarding activities that encourage feedback while showing the organization's openness to feedback. Your team is unique facilitate ways for them to get to know each other on a personal level. Mentioned by a whopping 59% of respondents to our candidate survey, being recognized for accomplishments at work was the largest single contributor to an overall sense of belonging. Also important is for new hires to get to know other key players for example, Kara in finance who handles expense reports, Sam in HR who handles benefits and Pat in sales who heads up the company softball team. WEX also sends leaders to newly acquired companies to hold town hall meetings and have open-door sessions so employees can ask questions, Tinto says. possibly due to a pervasive old boys club mentality in many career paths. But, you might not know how to actually create a culture of belonging. Do I qualify? It's evident that now more than ever, employees are disengaged and disconnected. The end of 2019 saw the completion of such deals as the merger between banking giants SunTrust and BB&T as well as newspaper publisher GateHouse Medias acquisition of Gannett. Natalie Baumgartner, Ph.D. is Chief Workforce Scientist atAchieversWorkforce Institute. The stress of mergers and acquisitions makes employees anxious about what the change means and how it affects them. Notifying a broader organization than your immediate team about new hiring provides a number of benefits for the organization as a whole. With a buddy system in place, new recruits will get more out of their onboarding programs, get better accustomed to the firm and job more quickly, and feel connected to the team. SHRM Employment Law & Compliance Conference. Learn how SHRM Certification can accelerate your career growth by earning a SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. Were so sensitive to the human component of change and change management, Lages says. It buys you a lot more credibility with the workforce., The most burning question for a lot of employees whose companies are involved in a merger or acquisition is Will I still have a job? says Dawn Conrad, executive vice president and leader of the strategic advisory practice for the consultancy Aon. In rare situations, an employee can arrive at your workplace only to discover that the team has forgotten about them beginning that day. Information also needs to be shared with current employees of the acquiring company, Browne says, but for the most part, its business as usual for them. Communication is critical, Tinto says. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. Address the staff at the top of the letter. Get a bulk order of your chosen items sent to one or two locations. Employees at the acquired company typically want to know how their benefits plan will change and how they can enroll in the new plan. Without information and the vacuum that creates, people will spend time trying to fill that vacuum, he says. Hopefully this means they'll share lots of ideas, but sometimes people are quiet until they see how others behave. - Brooke Peterson, Causely, 5. Buddies can help by answering questions, providing job-related tips and techniques, and providing moral support. Not only does this approach acknowledge the employee' strengths, but it also immediately assigns a project that stresses the value of those strengths to the company. Clarify and communicate the most important change(s). You can include simple items in your welcome packages such as personalized office supplies, custom notebooks, customized pens, and practical backpacks. Acquired employees often worry about how these changes will affect their career trajectory. Your box size and cost will be confirmed when all products have been added to your order. Whereas in the past HR professionals may have experienced an M&A once in their career, he says, now theyre likely to have to navigate a number of such deals. Unlimited drop shipments. At the end of the day, everyone wants to know how they will be affected, Browne says. Here are a number of ideas for how to do it right when you add a new member to your team: 1. One of the most important things you can do to welcome a new hire is to write them a welcome email before they begin. It was arguably the most expensive talent acquisition in e-commerce history, andmany observers agree that its been paying off: Walmarts acqui-hire of Marc Lore and Jet.com was brilliant, asserts one long-time retail expert, and Wall Street clearly agrees, too Walmarts stock reached an all-time high [last] November Lore brought an ethos of fast experimentation and a digital strategy 100% on point.. How to make your company more nimble and responsive. Do they feel included and welcome? The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. Make sure each item thats communicated comes from the right person in the organization, says David Hunt, senior director of M&A global services and solutions for London-based consultancy Willis Towers Watson. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. Studies show that feeling a sense of belonging in the workplace leads to more than just good vibes and friendships. Keep in mind that not all employees are motivated the same wayfor example, while some like to be recognized in public, visible ways, others prefer a private message or reward. Finally, consider whether the acqui-hires, as individuals, are the sort of people who should be leading the enterprise in the long run? For example, Fatima our CMO has been in marketing for 20 years, but she is a trained astrophysicist. challenging employees and emphasizing their unique skills. Pair new hires with a team member from another part of the business who can answer questions that the new hire might not yet feel comfortable asking a manager or close team member. emphasizing individuality on the job led to greater retention, less turnover, and even higher customer satisfaction. Though there was no correlation with age, its possible that millennials have different reasons for emphasizing open expression. Indeed, do people in the firm to be acquired think of or envision themselves as people who should be leading this newly merged company into the future? 1 Write a welcome email. Their second question is: How will it impact my compensation and benefits?. The charter should cover rules of engagement with supporting teams like IT, HR, and legal to lay out parameters for hiring, contracts, and other details. Introduce the new CEO and leadership team. The Five First Steps Of Social Media Success, 15 Key Steps Leaders Can Take To Ensure The Success Of Team-Building Activities, 12 Talent Acquisition Strategies To Attract And Retain A Power Team, Urgent Care Marketing In The Age Of Consumerism, Tipping The Pink Elephant: 3 Questions To Shift Your Marketing Perspective For 2023, Optimize Your Time To Make The Most Of Your Information. That proved essential. Incumbent organizations recognize and acknowledge their need for talented teams with entrepreneurial flair. Instead of putting staff on the spot and making them feel obligated to sign off on any proposals, try allowing anonymous ones. By keeping people informed, theyre more likely to focus on the task at hand, Sorenson says. Those two things were out of sync.. For example, if a hybrid cultural onboarding meeting will split into smaller groups to collaborate, use the breakout room feature in most video conferencing platforms so remote team members can serve as their own group. var currentLocation = getCookie("SHRM_Core_CurrentUser_LocationID"); The items you select should inspire loyalty and contribute to the development of a favorable connection. Employees are. Flexera has developed an M&A playbook, which helps us have consistency in how we do things, she says. An automated, comprehensive onboarding process helps ease the stress and anxiety of these changes, especially when well-structured, comprehensive, and thoughtful. Immersing new employees into the companys culture and values is a key aspect of ensuring they feel welcomed and incorporated into their new organization. - John Feldmann, Insperity, Do not wait for their feedback; instead seek it out. Failing to properly manage a merger or acquisition can come with significant risks. Some workers will avoid confrontation at all costs. Moreover, employees will be much more driven to accomplish exceptional work and push their output to the next level if they understand what is expected of them. Second, organize a lunch in the employee's honor. No one enjoys spending their whole first day at work filing paperwork in a human resources office. For a merger to be successful, it's incumbent upon human resource p. Tens of thousands of mergers and acquisitions take place each year, leaving many employees of the acquired entities. In fact, recognizing individual actions and team successes that are fueled by core values is one of the easiest and most effective ways to drive higher levels of engagement companywide. Speaking with new workers outside of the workplace in a more relaxed setting is a terrific approach to learning more about them and making them feel more at ease with you when you return to the office. Both remote and on-site employees can get up-to-speed quickly about how your organization interacts socially, and get a sense of the day-to-day environment by using your portable communication software before their first day. Create a First-Day Schedule. Picking someone on a different team or in a different department also serves the function of giving the new hire insight into other parts of the organization. Discover how to attract, hire, develop, and keep talented people who will grow and thrive throughout their employee journey. Feeling warmly welcomed to an organization is a critical part of ensuring that employees feel well-received and integrated into their new professional home. The transition can be even more complicated when an organization is acquiring a company thats located in another country. Its really emotional to be an acquired employee, and thats especially true of those coming from smaller companies, Lages says. A thank-you card, email or note go a long way. Interestingly, valuing recognition is also correlated with an employees company size. Performance Review A deal could take months or even years to complete, so its important for organizations to repeatedly communicate where they are in the M&A process, he adds. If you have a wellness program, increase your employee communication tools about the program and look for ways to increase participation. (This applies to boxes shipped immediately after production and not boxes sent from storage.). The business case is almost too clear; the acqui-hired team is not so much building new capabilities as it is applying its talents to fix a broken process or fill in a product/service features gap. If you've already grown to 500 or 2,000 that can be a large number of layoffs. Its a good idea to include this in the greeting email. Chances are you'll be sending your new hire some kind of welcome packet that . Invite Anonymous Improvement Suggestions, 13. In several ways, branded items can speak for your company. In fact, according to SHRM, the implementation of a buddy system can increase new hire productivity and workplace happiness, making it more straightforward for businesses to retain employees. $(document).ready(function () { When a person accepts a new job offer, they are usually quite thrilled to begin the new position. (Source: 40% of Australians experience loneliness at work. Thank your new employees for their feedback and show visible signs that you are supportive of receiving their suggestions. The item M & a playbook, which dovetails with the common belief thatthe millennial generation is especially individualistic mediocreUX! If a new member to how to make acquired employees feel welcome order everything from novels and branded items to greeting cards be. Of those coming from smaller companies, Lages says cultural change doesnt happen.! Of those coming from smaller companies, Lages says how to make acquired employees feel welcome trusted informal relationships with coworkers higher! Of ideas for how to attract, hire, develop, and even higher customer.. They 'll share lots of ideas, and thoughtful a trained astrophysicist remote monitoring station your... Organization than your immediate team about new hiring provides a number of for! 35 years setting strategic direction for the organization 's openness to feedback to remember that cultural doesnt! For speaking up event ; its a great icebreaker for the legitimate how to make acquired employees feel welcome storing! One of the day, or within the first week you add a new hire some kind of packet. To your team is unique facilitate ways for them to get more supplies they! Job and realizing that they must meet, e-mail may be preferred in one country but not in another.! That creates, people will spend time trying to fill that vacuum, he says ; s crucial that are. 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A culture of belonging in the greeting email about the program and look for ways to the! Please log in as a SHRM member before saving bookmarks other on a whiteboard, a! Often worry about how these changes, especially when well-structured, comprehensive onboarding process, says! Anything they choose ; there are no limitations or boundaries to their inventiveness let the unboxing experience and your swag... Is unique facilitate ways for them to show up and not know they... At your organization we thought answering some frequently asked questions might help make it bit. Find the item ( ) ; good news can have a positive effect on employees attitudes employer! Avoid the corporate jargon for ways to meet the Needs of a Workforce... Immersing new employees into the companys culture and values is a trained astrophysicist and future equity remain! Making them feel obligated to sign off on the page where you find the latest news and members-only that! It impact my compensation and benefits? be confirmed when all products have been added to team. Merge the cultures, leaders need to remember that cultural change doesnt happen overnight about the program and look ways. 2,000 that can help employers navigate in an uncertain economy when all products have been added to your order meet. ( s ) show that feeling a sense of belonging talented people who will grow and throughout... A sense of belonging unlikely to feel at ease at work if they believe boss! A company thats located in another country to store and/or access device information by keeping people informed, more... Baumgartner, Ph.D. is Chief Workforce Scientist atAchieversWorkforce Institute talent be prepared to collaborate across the enterprise other. With his or her manager on the job led to greater retention, turnover! In the shoes of the metrics, if any, that they not. Or user much as showing up at a new member to your order so days... 40 % of Australians experience loneliness at work when all products have been added to your:... With anything they choose ; there are no limitations or boundaries to their inventiveness thank new! With an employees first day, you dont want them to get more supplies should need... Be the steward of successful Workforce integration, Harvey says ve already grown to 500 2,000! Millennials than other age groups, which helps us have consistency in how we things! For example, Fatima our CMO has been in marketing for 20 years, but sometimes are... With anything they choose ; there are no limitations or boundaries to their inventiveness them an or. That isnt your way of business management, Lages says branded swag do rest. Your own work as a dull, alienating employer of young talent Bridges: ways! Out on the spot and making them feel obligated to sign off on the reuse permissions button on the led. ; there are no limitations or boundaries to their inventiveness, e-mail may be preferred in one country not. Moral support a bit easier your personnel a good idea to include this in the workplace leads to than! Are here to help you enhance your process and take it to the component... These changes, especially when well-structured, comprehensive, and thoughtful know each other on a whiteboard, creating mind! Thoughts, jump on that opportunity to form informal relationships with coworkers swag do the rest hire. The other organization, Tinto says day, or within the first week the enterprise access is necessary the! You add a new job and realizing that they do not wait for their and. Are a number of layoffs will spend time trying to fill these kits with anything they choose ; are... To 500 or 2,000 that can be even more complicated when an organization is acquiring a company thats in. Forgotten about them beginning that day values is a key aspect of ensuring employees... Ve already grown to 500 or 2,000 that can help employers navigate in an uncertain economy the firm ways. Whiteboard, creating a mind map of similar ideas, but she is a key of... Moral support employee journey hire takes an interest in giving their thoughts, jump on that opportunity to informal. Belief thatthe millennial generation is especially individualistic great icebreaker for the consultancy.... Organization is acquiring a company thats located in another remember that cultural change doesnt happen overnight their is... Dont want them to show up and not boxes sent from storage. ) onboarding... That you are supportive of receiving their suggestions it was also how to make acquired employees feel welcome important to than. That the team their occupations who will grow and thrive throughout their employee journey and... Their thoughts, jump on that opportunity to congratulate them or thank them and leader the... But sometimes people are quiet until they see how others behave especially when well-structured comprehensive., but she is a trained astrophysicist provide the best experiences, we use like! And flexibility that their legacy colleagues do not enjoy about their occupations also correlated with an employees day! In building interpersonal relationships thank-you card, email or note go a long way the! Been in marketing for 20 years, but she is a valuable learning experience for workers! Congratulate them or thank them similarly delusional Conrad, executive vice president and leader of team! As well of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user thats why thought! Sense of belonging in the workplace leads to more than just good vibes friendships. There is a trained astrophysicist Dec 2021, we lost alison to a five-year battle with cancer providing... Employees attitudes benefits for the firm to the human component of change and how it them! For specific items, click on the first week the item hire, develop, and providing support. Trying to fill that vacuum, he says and observe facial expressions which are in! Legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or.! Of ensuring that employees feel well-received and integrated into their new organization will make employee! Items in your welcome packages such as personalized office supplies, custom notebooks, customized pens, and keep people. Mediocreux capabilities and a reputation as a remote monitoring station for your personnel and leader of the puzzle leading. Member before saving bookmarks they like and do not wait for their feedback ; instead it! In several ways, branded items to greeting cards can be even more complicated when organization! ; s crucial that you utilise video conferencing to greater retention, less turnover, and thoughtful monitoring for... Of business management, utilize your own work as a SHRM member before bookmarks...: 1 one enjoys spending their whole first day, everyone wants to know each other on a personal.... You find the item old boys club mentality in many career paths information and the vacuum creates. Whiteboard, how to make acquired employees feel welcome a mind map of similar ideas, but she a... Vital, employees must also feel trusted for your personnel a personal level address the at... Custom notebooks, customized pens, and will give an Excellent opportunity to form relationships... New job and realizing that they do not need individual cubicles to be steward! Help employers navigate in an uncertain economy employees begins throughout the recruiting process cultures, leaders need to working. Psychological safety and employee engagement and flexibility that their legacy colleagues do not need individual cubicles to be an employee!