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Strategic Beginnings: The Peachtree VA Method for Onboarding Excellence - Part 1

November LeePublished May 9, 20252 min read

Organizations that lack a formal onboarding process report lower productivity (16%) and higher employee turnover (12%). That’s why we created the Peachtree VA Comprehensive Onboarding Guide!

Our guide helps create positive onboarding experiences for virtual assistants and full-time employees. Use our guide to create your own checklist or upload it to a PDF editor for direct use with each new hire.

Download our Comprehensive Onboarding Guide →

In this blog, we’ll cover:

  1. Onboarding Virtual Assistants
  2. Onboarding Full-Time Employees
    1. HR Checklist
    2. Manager Checklist
    3. IT Checklist & Best Practices (by Pickard Solutions)

Stay tuned for more on virtual vs. in-person onboarding, communication strategies, and building trust and culture, or download our guide to access that information now!

Onboarding Virtual Assistants

When onboarding a Peachtree Virtual Assistant, consider these steps:

  1. Schedule a kick-off meeting to introduce the VA to your team and discuss expectations
  2. Provide access to necessary tools and platforms (project management software, communication tools, etc.)
  3. Create a detailed task list or project outline (include 30-day goals to ensure a smooth transition)
  4. Set up regular check-ins (weekly is recommended)
  5. Establish communication preferences and working hours
  6. Share important company policies and procedures
  7. Assign yourself or a team member as a point of contact for questions

Onboarding Full-Time Employees

HR Checklist

  • Complete necessary paperwork (I-9, W-4, etc.)
  • Enroll the employee in benefits programs
  • Add the employee to the payroll
  • Provide employee handbook/company policies
  • Schedule mandatory HR training sessions
  • Set up performance review milestones

Manager Checklist

  • Send team welcome email introducing them
  • Assign a mentor or onboarding buddy
  • Schedule introduction meetings with team
  • Prepare new hire’s workstation/virtual workspace
  • Create a training schedule
  • Set up regular one-on-one meetings
  • Communicate role expectations and goals

IT Checklist

Pickard Solutions offers insights to save time and reduce frustration by setting up essential tools and accounts in advance:

  • Procure, set up and ship any necessary equipment to the new team member
  • Ensure the new user has a business email account set up under your company domain to maintain security and professionalism.
  • Provide a password manager to securely share credentials if needed.
  • Provide file and folder access for the information needed by the new team member.
  • Provide access to shared calendars and any calendars of employees the team member will be supporting
  • Identify and document the necessary tools & platforms and the appropriate level of access required.
  • Windows 11 Pro
  • 16 GB of RAM
  • 256 GB solid state drive
  • Business Antimalware
  • BitLocker enabled
  • Password Manager

For more IT tips from Pickard Solutions, check out our IT Management Guide →

Continuous Improvement

Remember, onboarding is an ongoing process. Ensure that all new hire information is accessible and easy to find. Keep in mind that virtual and on-site onboarding require different steps.

Regularly seek feedback from new hires and adjust your onboarding program as needed to ensure its effectiveness and relevance. A proper onboarding and training process saves you time in the long run, boosts team morale, and reduces employee turnover!

Download our Comprehensive Onboarding Guide →

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