Landing your first remote job after months of job hunting is an exciting milestone, especially for fresh grads who are just starting their careers. I still remember the thrill I felt when Remote Staff hired me as a content writer.
That said, while entering the workforce is exhilarating, you must also ensure your upcoming workplace is the right one for you.
While you can already spot some red flags during your interview, your onboarding experience will reveal more about your new company’s culture.
To help you avoid working in a toxic work environment, here are some onboarding red flags to watch out for.
The Importance of a Smooth Onboarding Process
Before we start, let’s first discuss why a smooth employee onboarding process is so crucial for your career decision-making process:
- Faster Adjustment:
- A positive new hire experience helps you quickly understand your role, expectations, and company culture so you can hit the ground running.
- Higher Job Satisfaction:
- A well-structured employee onboarding process makes you feel valued and supported by your company, increasing your motivation and engagement.
- Increased Productivity:
- Proper training and guidance allow you to perform your tasks efficiently, mutually benefitting you and your company.
- Stronger Employer-Employee Relationship:
- Clear communication and support during onboarding help build trust and a positive workplace culture.
In contrast, a poorly executed onboarding process leads to role ambiguity and dissatisfaction, making it more difficult for you to succeed at work.
Onboarding Red Flags You Should Watch Out for Early On
Let’s now take a look at the various workplace red flags you should keep an eye out for during onboarding:
Unstructured or Rushed Onboarding
A major onboarding red flag is job orientation issues, which is often a sign of disorganization and lack of investment in employee success.
This results in role ambiguity, making it difficult to do your work and increasing your frustration and sense of neglect.
Examples of this include:
- No clear training, orientation, or introduction to company policies,
- No formal introduction to company culture,
- Important documents (i.e., employment contract, company handbook, payroll forms) are delayed or missing,
- You’re left to figure things out on your own, with little to no guidance, and
- Lack of access to necessary tools, software, and resources to perform your remote job effectively.
If you notice a lack of structured onboarding, immediately speak up and ask the following questions:
- “Is there an official training schedule I should follow?”
- “Who can I reach out to if I need guidance?”
- “When will I receive my employment documents?”
Unclear Job Expectations
Another major onboarding red flag is vague job descriptions and expectations.
When you start a new job, your tasks should align with the job description you applied for.
That said, some companies fail to provide clear-cut expectations, leading to confusion and frustration.
This often takes the form of:
- Vague or constantly changing duties and responsibilities, often without explanation,
- Your manager giving you tasks that are completely different from what was discussed during the interview,
- New, unfamiliar tasks without the proper guidance and support required to get them done
- No proper job description or documentation outlining your new responsibilities.
Here’s what you can do if this happens to you:
- Immediately ask your manager for a clear list of your responsibilities and performance expectations.
- Keep a record of your job description, assigned tasks, and any changes in responsibilities.
- If your role keeps shifting without any explanation, bring it to the attention of HR and your manager immediately.
Poor Communication and an Unresponsive Team
Whether you’re in the office or in a remote setup, having a proper feedback loop is essential for your successful integration into the company.
Thus, one of the most common employment warning signs is sporadic communication, or worse, ghosting from your team.
This often manifests as delayed responses to your queries, the absence of regular check-ins from your immediate supervisor, and not knowing your team’s communication channels.
Disrupted feedback loops significantly slow down your learning curve and make you feel unsupported and disconnected, especially if you’re working online.
If you experience this, you can:
- Proactively ask questions and request the information you need.
- Keep records of your attempts to communicate and the responses you receive, which is especially useful if this issue persists and needs to be escalated.
- Conduct a company culture assessment to reflect on whether this lack of communication is indicative of the company’s overall culture.
An Overwhelming Workload from Day One
A well-organized employee onboarding process gradually introduces you to your tasks and responsibilities so you can better acclimate to them.
For some companies however, they expect you to hit the ground running immediately on day one.
These typically take the form of being immediately given complex tasks with minimal support or feeling compelled to work longer hours as a sign of “dedication.”
An immediate heavy workload can be a sign of bigger issues within your company (such as manpower issues) and hurts your workplace well-being.
If you’re experiencing this, here’s what you can do:
- Discuss your workload with your manager; express your concerns regarding the volume of work and seek clarification on priorities.
- Connect with colleagues or mentors within your company to gain insights and assistance in managing your responsibilities.
- Establish clear work-life boundaries to avoid burnout.
Lack of Access to Essential Tools and Resources
Having the necessary skills for your tasks is one thing; having the necessary tools to do them is another.
This onboarding red flag often appears as delayed equipment provisioning, insufficient software access, and inadequate training for your tools.
Aside from the obvious hit to your productivity, lacking the right tools may signal a broader lack of employee support within your company.
If you’re experiencing this, you can:
- Inform your manager or HR about the missing tools or software immediately.
- Keep records of your communications regarding these needs to ensure accountability.
- Suggest interim measures or alternatives to mitigate the impact on your work.
- Inquire if there are specific procedures or timelines for resource allocations you might not be aware of.
Disorganized or Conflicting Company Policies
Another serious red flag you should watch out for is contradictory company policies.
These are characterized by opposing directives, overlapping responsibilities with other team members, and misaligned objectives.
Conflicting company policies often indicate inadequate planning and coordination within the company, resulting in confusion and increased conflict among employees.
If you notice this while starting out, here’s what you can do:
- Ask your immediate supervisor or HR for clear, updated guidelines and documentation on company policies.
- Share your concerns about policy inconsistencies with management.
High Employee Turnover and Negative Workplace Culture
Another sign of a toxic workplace is a consistently high employee turnover rate within the company.
This is often a symptom of deep managerial dysfunctions, cutthroat competition, and unmotivated staff, leading to dissatisfaction and low morale.
To avoid working in a toxic work environment, review employee feedback on sites like Glassdoor to assess their company culture.
Aside from this, here are some other steps you can take:
- Probe further into the company’s workplace culture during your interview to assess if it aligns with your values.
- During your onboarding process, observe the interactions between your supervisor and co-workers. Be alert for signs of a toxic work environment like lack of transparency and fierce competition among employees.
Payment Issues and an Unclear Compensation Structure
Excited to finally receive your first paycheck?
Wait, what’s that? You still haven’t received your salary after several weeks?
Payment delays or inconsistencies are common concerns for all remote workers.
These issues may indicate that the company is financially struggling, lacks transparency, or worse, they’re exploiting you as free labor.
Besides salary delays, these issues often take the form of vague salary descriptions and the absence of any written documentation outlining your salary, benefits, or payment schedules.
If you suspect that this is happening to you, here’s what you can do:
- Request a detailed breakdown of your compensation package, including base salary, bonuses, equity, and any other benefits.
- Ensure all compensation details are provided in writing before accepting any offers.
- Compare your employer’s offered salary with industry standards to ensure you’re getting appropriate compensation.
An Unhealthy Work-Life Balance and Unrealistic Expectations
One of the main benefits of location-flexible careers is greater work-life balance compared to working in an office.
Unfortunately, some employers believe that because you’re working remotely, it means you’re “always on” for work.
When a company promotes an unhealthy work-life balance, it often involves excessive work hours and constant availability.
Furthermore, this red flag can take the form of long hours with minimal breaks and constant, unrealistic deadlines.
This setup not only harms morale, but is also a leading cause of burnout for many remote workers.
Here are some things you can do if you’re experiencing this:
- Have an open conversation with your manager about work hours, deadlines, and managing expectations.
- Establish clear limits for your availability, and politely communicate these boundaries to your manager.
Starting Your Remote Career the Right Way
Your onboarding period is a crucial time for assessing whether your current company is the right fit for you.
A common mistake fresh grads make is ignoring the various onboarding red flags mentioned above.
Thus, if you notice any of these, even if it’s just a gut feeling, contact your immediate supervisor or HR immediately.
If things don’t improve, you have to ask yourself: is staying on this job worth the adverse effects on your health?
Still looking for remote-first job opportunities? Remote Staff is here to help.
Our jobs list contains plenty of virtual career opportunities to choose from. These range from virtual assistant and online transcription jobs to online writing and design ones.
Ready to shift to a location-flexible career? Click here. Good luck!
