Understanding onboarding buddies
An onboarding buddy bridges the gap between formal onboarding training and the informal knowledge needed to thrive. They're the person a new hire can ask "silly questions" without feeling judged - like where to find the good coffee or how to navigate office politics.
Buddy responsibilities
- Answer everyday questions
- Make introductions
- Explain unwritten rules
- Check in regularly
Not buddy's role
- Performance management
- Technical training
- Setting work priorities
- Career development
Benefits of buddy programs
Research shows buddy programs significantly improve onboarding outcomes:
Proven benefits
Selecting effective buddies
- Tenure: At least 6-12 months with the company
- Attitude: Positive about the organisation and role
- Skills: Good communication and interpersonal abilities
- Capacity: Time available to dedicate to the role
Volunteer vs assigned
Volunteers make better buddies than conscripts. People who want to help new employees bring enthusiasm and genuine care. However, ensure volunteers are actually suitable - not everyone with good intentions has the right skills.
The buddy role
Week 1 activities
- Welcome on first day
- Show around the workplace
- Have lunch together
- Introduce to key people
Ongoing activities
- Weekly check-ins
- Answer questions
- Explain company culture
- Provide encouragement
Common buddy program mistakes
No training for buddies
Buddies need guidance on their role, what's expected, and what's not their responsibility. Brief training ensures consistency and prevents buddies from overstepping.
Poor buddy-new hire matching
Random matching often fails. Consider personality, work style, and role relevance when pairing. A mismatch can make onboarding worse than having no buddy.
No recognition for buddies
Being a buddy takes time and effort. Recognise and appreciate buddies - whether through formal recognition, reduced workload, or simply thank-you notes.
Key takeaways
Onboarding buddies provide invaluable peer support that complements formal training. When implemented well, buddy programs improve new hire satisfaction, speed time to productivity, and reduce early turnover.
RosterElf's employee management helps Australian businesses support new staff from day one with easy rostering, time tracking, and team communication.
