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How eSignatures Boost the Employee Experience

How Electronic Signatures Enhance Employee Engagement

Vijith Menon

Human resource management teams face enduring challenges, from selecting the right personnel to managing their departure processes. The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic further complicated their role, requiring them to ensure seamless operations within organizations, even with remote teams, while tackling attrition.

The COVID-19 crisis prompted HR teams to undergo a transformative shift, adapting to handle remote work and expediting safe onboarding while contending with attrition. This underscored the need for digital transformation due to the pandemic's impact and the prevalence of legacy systems in many companies. Naturally, the demand for digital solutions in human resource management intensified as remote work became widespread.

Electronic signatures, or e-signatures, are crucial in departments overwhelmed by paperwork. They conserve resources and time and drive organizations towards environmentally friendly alternatives. eSignatures provide a streamlined method for verifying personal information in forms and agreements, reducing the workload on HR teams.

The War for Good Talent 

The "War for Talent" is not a new concept, but its intensity has grown significantly in recent years. Rapid technological advancements, changing work dynamics, and shifting employee expectations have reshaped the employment landscape. As companies vie for individuals possessing not only the right skills but also cultural alignment, the competition has become more cutthroat.

Organizations understand that acquiring top-tier talent can set them on a trajectory of innovation, growth, and success. However, the process of attracting, assessing, and ultimately signing on these coveted individuals demands a strategic approach, beginning with a seamless onboarding experience.

The Significance of Smooth Onboarding 

A successful onboarding process extends far beyond an employee's first day. It lays the foundation for a productive and enduring relationship between the individual and the organization. Smooth onboarding has a direct impact on

  • Time-to-Productivity - An efficient onboarding process reduces the time it takes for new hires to become fully productive members of the team. This not only benefits the organization's output but also boosts the new employee's confidence and job satisfaction.

  • Retention and Engagement - A smooth onboarding experience positively influences employee retention rates. When new hires feel supported, valued, and equipped to succeed, they are more likely to remain committed to the organization and its goals.

  • Cultural Integration - Effective onboarding goes beyond paperwork and training. It introduces newcomers to the company's culture, values, and mission, fostering a sense of belonging and alignment with the organization's ethos. An employee who inculcates himself faster into the company work environment will be a good asset in the future.

A Small Introduction to eSignatures 

Electronic signatures are used in automating the signing and digital documentation process. Since both large and small firms are interested in cutting down expenses and increasing profits, e-signatures are a good bet to sign contracts or agreements digitally. It aids in streamlining work processes, enhances the employee-employer relationship, speeds the onboarding process, and delivers an excellent digital experience.

Use Cases of eSignature in Personnel Management 

  • Hiring - Attracting top talent in a competitive market is daunting for HR teams. The eSignature service’s real-time email trail aids HR managers in tracking recruits and obtaining necessary e-signatures.

  • Onboarding - Efficient employee onboarding facilitates immediate contribution to the organization. The digital signature platform simplifies document review and signing, eliminating paperwork for HR teams. Offer letters, appraisal letters, review letters, promotion letters, salary hike letters, and other important documents can be signed with ease.

  • Employee Management - Effective employee management ensures adherence to company policies and goal achievement. E-signatures enable remote contract renewals and employee terminations.

  • Offboarding - A positive exit experience contributes to an employee's lasting impression. It ensures former employees uphold confidentiality through non-disclosure agreement signatures. Secure email delivery expedites the process, particularly for remote employees.

Benefits of E-signatures 

  • Sustainability - Going paperless through e-signatures conserves paper and achieves the same outcomes. Digital signatures can be integrated into onboarding and paper-intensive processes, promoting sustainability.

  • Time-saving - E-signatures streamline HR departments inundated with tasks. Online document signing by candidates and HR managers is tracked in real time on eSignature platforms.

  • Efficient Document Management - E-signatures simplify document retrieval and storage, centralizing management and utilizing cloud storage.

  • Reduced Human Error - E-signatures minimize errors in electronic documents. HR teams can automate contract signing processes for efficiency.

  • Robust Security - Electronically signed documents adhere to stringent cybersecurity standards and include a real-time mail trail for authenticity.

Don’t Miss to Read: 8 Benefits of eSignature Service to Enhance the Security of Contracts

What is DrySign? 

DrySign is an electronic signature solution that aims to deliver a superior employee experience. It aims to simplify the hire-to-retire lifecycle in organizations by sending and signing documents electronically.

DrySign can distribute the required documents to employees through a centralized dashboard. The dashboard can be used to track employees' signing status and send them reminders to ensure they are signed and delivered on time.

Furthermore, it uses a real-time mail trail to check for any modifications or alterations done to the document or signature. It also prevents unauthorized users from manipulating the data using two-factor authentication (2FA). All the features of DrySign help provide employees with a smooth onboarding experience and help them become productive.

Are E-signatures Legally Binding? 

Yes, they are valid and legally binding globally. Verification relies on the user's identity and timestamp. Organizations embracing paperless and sustainable practices like remote work will find electronic signatures integral for onboarding and offboarding. DrySign complies with the UETA and ESIGN Act and ensures companies are aligned with the right business practices while signing contracts digitally.

In a competitive job market, where candidates use employment-oriented platforms, e-signatures empower HR departments to secure top talent while optimizing resources and time.

The quest for talent has escalated into a full-fledged war in the modern business landscape. Organizations across industries compete fiercely to secure the best candidates to drive their success. This race for exceptional talent has highlighted the critical importance of seamless employee onboarding, and eSignatures have emerged as a pivotal tool to gain an edge in this ongoing battle for human capital.

The Final Word 

Human resource management teams have long grappled with multifaceted challenges, from selecting fitting personnel to designing their farewell experiences. The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated their role, compelling them to sustain smooth organizational operations amid remote teams and attrition challenges. This precipitated a transformation within HR teams, driving them to adapt to remote work demands while expediting secure onboarding processes.

The pandemic-induced need for digital evolution and replacing outdated systems underscored the necessity for digital solutions in human resource management, especially with the surge of remote work.

At the forefront of HR's evolution, electronic signatures are pivotal in mitigating paperwork overwhelm. E-signatures offer efficiency, saving resources and time while steering organizations towards environmentally conscious alternatives. These signatures provide a streamlined method for verifying personal details in forms and agreements, thus alleviating the administrative burden on HR departments.

The relentless "war for talent" has escalated due to an evolving talent pool and the use of digital technologies. Organizations are adopting strategic approaches to secure the best individuals possessing both skills and cultural alignment, with seamless onboarding emerging as a linchpin.

A successful onboarding process extends beyond an employee's entry, establishing the basis for a productive and enduring relationship. Swift onboarding directly affects time-to-productivity, retention rates, and cultural integration, ultimately shaping employee engagement and success within the organization.

DrySign, an electronic signature solution, caters to the need for a smooth onboarding. It simplifies document distribution, tracking, and authentication, enhancing the employee experience while adhering to legal requirements. DrySign's security measures, including real-time tracking and two-factor authentication, safeguard against data manipulation, ensuring the integrity of the signed documents.

In conclusion, the battle for talent underscores the importance of seamless onboarding, with e-signatures serving as a catalyst for streamlined and secure processes. As businesses embrace paperless solutions and sustainable practices, e-signatures prove indispensable in securing top talent while optimizing resources and efficiency.

Sign up the best candidates using DrySign.

DISCLAIMER: The information on this site is for general information purposes only and is not intended to serve as legal advice. Laws governing the subject matter may change quickly, and Exela cannot guarantee that all the information on this site is current or correct. Should you have specific legal questions about any of the information on this site, you should consult with a licensed attorney in your area.

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