Buddy System

Buddy System Meaning | What is the Buddy System?

A buddy system is a way to onboard new employees into the organisation with familiarity and acquaintance from day one. New employees get a mentor or a buddy for a few weeks to introduce them to the culture, processes, resources, etc.

Why Implement a Buddy System at Work?

1. Knowledge exchange:
   A new buddy system at work allows people to exchange ideas, experiences, knowledge, and expertise.
2. Friendly environment:
   Boost the friendly environment by assigning a buddy to the new hire, especially when getting hired in a middle or managerial position.
3. Clear expectations:
   An assigned buddy helps the new hire get ahead of the goals and performances initially. They can help the new hire with all the tools and plan of action for 30 to 90 days to execute.
4. Candidate engagement:
   Boost candidate engagement with all live updates that the buddy shares with the new hire before getting on board fully.
5. Promotes a sense of belonging:
   A new hire is not alone after assigning them a buddy. They have a go-to person, just like an HR has uKnowva HRMS for all their HR functions to streamline in a few clicks.
6. Fosters productivity:
   New hires know what they must do and achieve in the first few weeks of their employment. It improves their productivity as they do not waste time in guestimation.

How to Make a Buddy System Work at Your Workplace?

Most often, a buddy program at work has to be formal. It will pair one or more employees with the new hire, and the duties of a buddy in the buddy program must be documented.

It will also show the things a buddy has to discuss, show, or explain to the new hire initially. This written document or an SOP (standard operating procedure) must be acknowledged properly.

How to Start a Buddy System at Your Workplace?

To start a buddy system at your workplace, know these attributes:

1. Supportive leader a buddy:
   Not everyone has the calibre to be a buddy to a new hire. Assign buddies to a new hire carefully. This buddy will be the image of the organisational culture before the new hire gets officially onboarded.

   Some of the characteristics of this buddy can include:

   • Active listener
   • Empathetic
   • Approachable
   • Adaptable
   • Effective communicator
2. Provide guidelines to the buddy:
   We cleared this earlier in the section above. You need to create an SOP for the buddy so they know what is expected of them when they collaborate with a new hire for a definite period.

How to Judge the Effectiveness of a Buddy System?

You can judge the effectiveness of a buddy system or program easily. Set metrics for that and build a chain of accountability and feedback.

1. Buddy system metrics and outcomes:
   Check how fast a new hire is able to acquaint themselves with the organisational culture. How are their productivity and efficiency in the first 30,60, and 90 days after assigning them a buddy? Results will show the ultimate outcome of a buddy program at work.
2. Gather real-time feedback:
   Build an open flow of communication for real-time feedback from both ends, that is, the buddy and the new hire. It helps the employee or HR manager know if they made the right decision to hire a new talent and assign a buddy to them simultaneously.

Drawbacks of a Buddy System in the Workplace

Let’s study the drawbacks of a buddy system if it is not put in place properly.

Here’s how it can turn out of dysfunctional:

1. Negative word of mouth:
   If you do not assign a buddy after rigorous evaluation, this leads to a faulty buddy system. It can attract more negative word of mouth and impression in front of the new joiner or hire.
2. Unclear goals and communication:
   When a buddy does not know what to expect from a new hire, that pairing is wrong. It leads to a waste of time and other limited resources. A new hire might get confused and feel anxious while connecting with such a buddy.

What are the Alternatives to a Buddy System in the Workplace?

The best alternative to a traditional buddy system is to put a self-serving platform like uKnowva HRMS in place.