Fears of New Employees and Approaches for Handling them

Human experience includes some level of uncertainty. We all encounter it from time to time, and although some people thrive in the face of uncertainty, for others it is a time of intense worry and anxiety. In contrast to circumstances where the conclusion is unclear, the human brain prefers to deal with situations where the outcome is predictable. That explains why some individuals continue to live in challenging circumstances. Despite the fact that the majority of individuals can deal with change on their own, a sizable portion require assistance getting through this stage. Good HR professionals are aware of this and actively engage with new hires to understand and allay their concerns as new employees.

Now that you are aware of the origin of these fears, let's examine what these employee fears actually are.

Is this the correct step for my career?

The uncertainty of changing companies is something that many new employees worry about, especially if they have been in their present position for a considerable amount of time. "Am I making the right decision?" is the first thing they ask themselves. One might get into a panic spiral very rapidly if they are afraid of leaving their familiar surroundings for an unfamiliar one.

By making sure the employee has a pleasant experience from day one, HR managers may assist in allaying these concerns. Additionally, they need to persuade the new employee that their new surroundings would help them gain new abilities and advance in their jobs. They can accomplish this by emphasizing the new hire's training and skill-development program.

Hesitancy to ask questions

Many times, inexperienced employees are afraid to ask inquiries. When someone asks a question that they believe they should already know the answer to, they worry that they will be evaluated for what they say and will appear foolish or incompetent.

However, when starting a new job, everyone has a ton of questions. Making the new employee feel appreciated in the company will enable you, as the HR manager you should help them in overcoming workplace fear. Remind them that there are no dumb questions and encourage them to inquire if they have any queries. Of course, you should never mock or belittle someone for asking a question.

Fear about approaching authority

Don't place a lot of emphasis on hierarchy in work. Of course, there probably is one, but even entry-level employees should have to feel comfortable approaching management when required. Encourage an environment where no one is too important to speak to anybody else. By doing this, you'll make sure that everyone realizes that you're all on the same side. The communication with the organization's leader and supervisor is feared by new employees. They consider how to speak and whether he is a more senior person for me to consult. A new employee will imitate dynamic interaction between workers at all levels if they witness it. Additionally, this engagement shouldn't be limited to business encounters.

Organizing casual meet-and-greet events or team-building exercises is one simple method HR manager may promote this type of environment. These provide personnel of all ranks the chance to get to know one another outside of the workplace.

Underperformance fear

In an interview, everyone tries to present their strongest selves. But once they've secured a position, new hires frequently worry that they won't meet the demands of their new company. What is the greatest strategy to assist people in overcoming fear of underperformance at work? Make sure expectations are stated properly and that your staff has the resources necessary to meet them. For instance, you might arrange their work using an employee schedule template.

Fear of being judged

However, when starting a new job, everyone has a ton of questions. New employees frequently hesitate before asking questions. Here, people are afraid of being judged or, worse still, of coming across as ignorant and inept. The expression or attitude of "Really? You should know the answer."

Encourage the new worker to ask questions when they are uncertain about something to assist them get over this phobia. Inform them that no inquiry is ridiculous. Your checklist for onboarding as a HR resource should include that.

Additionally, it's important to instruct internal staff members not to make fun of new hires by bringing up their own experience as new hires. In a productive and efficient workplace, both new and seasoned employees are encouraged to ask questions. Asking questions is a great approach to learn new things and boost your spirits.

Give staff members the freedom to inquire, doing so will better prepare them to look for information when they need it.

Final words

Humans naturally experience dread in unfamiliar situations. Starting a new job might seem like a particularly high-stakes new circumstance because the majority of us spend more than 40 hours each week at work. Of course, in order to contribute effectively to the team, the individual must make the effort to get over their concerns.

However, the HR department and managers also have a part to play. Being a good manager involves helping your staff members at every step of their employment with the organization. Senior leaders have a duty to provide a supportive, cooperative work environment, identify employee issues and provide help as soon as feasible. This may be accomplished by being aware of the most frequent anxieties that brand-new hires experience, their root causes, and necessary solutions.