Acculturation Onboarding for Independent Contractors

When a company hires an outside contractor, it can be tempting to skip the onboarding process altogether. After all, the independent contractor is covered under a separate agreement covering expectations such as non-compete and non-disclosure clauses.

It can be tempting to assume that, as a professional, the contractor has little need for any orientation or socialization that would typically take place as part of the acculturation process. After all, any hours spent on onboarding tasks are billable - and that can really add up. However, the very nature of contract work makes it essential that some level of acculturation take place.

Why Is This So?

Bringing in an independent contractor is intrinsically disruptive to the normal operations of the department in which the individual is assigned to work. For example, a high-level IT consultant might be sourced to work on a specific project involving the implementation of new software.

The existing IT staff members are already stressed with a tight deadline and the need to adapt to a modified system. Learning to work with a new team member poses an added emotional and psychological challenge during an already difficult period.

They may also resent the contractor if they feel the project was within their ability to carry out on their own. Or, they may feel that since the contractor will soon be leaving, they will be left to take any flack over later issues that may arise due to any errors made during implementation.

This means it is imperative for the consultant to not only understand the parameters of the job, but the corporate and departmental culture within which the project objectives will be carried out. Otherwise, the likelihood of miscommunication, non-cooperation, and lowered productivity may further increase the costs of the project in question. This may defeat the purpose of bringing in an outside contractor to ensure an optimal outcome.

Nip Problems in the Bud

Ensuring collaboration between the contractor and full-time staff members is critical. An acculturation module geared toward bringing contractors quickly up to speed with how things really work at your organization can be a sound investment of time and resources. With the web-based orientation available via Emerald Software's Acculturation Portal, contractors can begin familiarizing themselves with your company prior to meeting your team for the first time.