• Subscribe
  • E-Newsletter
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Login
Community Rec
  • Topics
    • Community
    • Facility Development
    • Programming
    • Operations
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • E-Newsletter
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
  • On-Demand
  • Continuing Education
    • Community Rec Leadership Summit
    • Webinars
    • Pickleball Innovators
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
    • Case Studies
  • Podcast
  • Buyer’s Guide
No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Community
    • Facility Development
    • Programming
    • Operations
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • E-Newsletter
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
  • On-Demand
  • Continuing Education
    • Community Rec Leadership Summit
    • Webinars
    • Pickleball Innovators
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
    • Case Studies
  • Podcast
  • Buyer’s Guide
No Result
View All Result
Community Rec
No Result
View All Result
Home In Print Features

Training and Educating New Employees

Taylor Brown by Taylor Brown
March 4, 2022
in Features, In Print, Operations & Facilities
0
educating new employees
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Tips for successfully training and educating new employees.

The COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns allowed many people to be home and have time to rethink not only how they work, but why they work. This has led to the Great Reshuffle. Unlike anything we’ve seen in the history of work, professionals are prioritizing jobs that give them purpose. 

While the Great Reshuffle may have caused your facility to lose employees, it’s likely you are also experiencing new employees joining because they want to make a difference. While it’s exciting to have fresh faces joining your team who are eager to help, it’s more important than ever that they have proper onboarding to set them up for success. 

For Amelia Baker, the chief marketing officer at the YMCA of South Hampton Roads, onboarding starts with ensuring new hires know the real impact community centers make. 

“The impact and community connection that happens inside fitness and rec centers is powerful,” said Baker. “Sharing how employees participate in fighting isolation for seniors, building a community of friends in group fitness classes, teaching a powerful life skill like swimming and being part of someone’s wellness journey is incredibly rewarding. Highlighting the impact the organization has on individuals and families makes it more than a job.”

Learn More: Staff Bonding Strategies from an Industry Veteran

When a new team member joins, Baker said they focus on a strategy of Welcome, Connect, Support and Invite. Staff are onboarded with a curriculum of videos and online courses as well as in-person training and support. Additionally, they’re often connected with a mentor in their first year as they navigate a new environment to get the hang of their responsibilities.

Training and educating new employees don’t stop once a member is first onboarded at the Y of South Hampton Roads. 

“We provide continuing education opportunities for their particular expertise,” explained Baker. “For example, group fitness and personal training certifications are scheduled throughout the year, in-service sessions and team retreats are organized, and we provide management training tracks for staff hoping to stay with the Y to build a lifelong career.”

Just like any task, onboarding comes with its own struggles and challenges. Baker said the majority of these challenges arise when they are in urgent or dire need for staff — a situation many facilities can relate to after facing two years of a pandemic and a national staffing shortage — and the training process may need to be sped up. “It’s definitely a challenge to balance the right timeline that allows the staff to receive proper training support within the optimal time frame versus fulfilling our member service and consumer needs at the most optimal level,” she explained.

Learn More: Tackling the Youth Sports Staff Retention Issue

While there are challenges that come with onboarding staff, the benefits far outweigh the obstacles. Despite facing the Great Reshuffle, you will find the people who truly want to make an impact and help others are those who actively seek out your organization and crave more knowledge and training. For Baker, simply offering a sense of belonging and team camaraderie will create an infectious culture that will keep your staff around. 

“It’s human nature to desire being part of something, especially something bigger than yourself,” explained Baker. “Encouraging the team to take opportunities to see and understand how they’re impacting their friends, neighbors and community by working at the Y helps to understand the mission of the organization and how critical it is for the community.” 

Extra: Onboarding Best Practices by SnackNation

  • Send out a new hire announcement introducing them to the team.
  • Schedule “meet and greets” with collaborators and teams across the company.
  • Schedule “meet and greets” with company leaders or top performers so new hires can hear their stories and learn from their experiences.
  • Establish a list of regular tasks, goals for the first year and key performance indicators.
  • Provide information about the growth potential for their specific position or upward mobility at the company in general. If someone was promoted from the new hire’s position, have that person share some insight about their experience. 
  • Complete one-week, 30-day and 60-day pulse check-ins to find out how new hires feel overall and find out if they have the specific support, resources and equipment they need to work efficiently and effectively.

Stay up to date on industry trends, best practices, news and more.

Tags: hiring staffMarch/April 2022new employeesonboardingstaff trainingThe Great Reshuffletraining and educatingYMCA of South Hampton Roads
Previous Post

Building Successful Community Partnerships

Next Post

Top Member Experience Trends for 2022

Taylor Brown

Taylor Brown

Taylor Brown is the assistant editor of Community Rec Magazine. She can be reached at taylor@peakemedia.com.

Related Posts

YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago
Leadership

YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago Names Adam Alonso as Next President and CEO

June 10, 2025
Missoula Family YMCA
Cover Story

Missoula Family YMCA: Immeasurable Spirit

May 21, 2025
YMCA of Greater Boston
Ask The Expert

Q&A on the Healthy Habits Program at the YMCA of Greater Boston

May 21, 2025
Upace
Brand Voice

Empowering Connections: The Story of Upace and its Mission-Driven Platform

May 21, 2025
Risk Management
Features

Building a Culture of Safety with Risk Management

May 21, 2025
AI
Features

How AI is Revolutionizing Community Rec Centers

May 21, 2025
Next Post
member experience trends

Top Member Experience Trends for 2022

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Exposure Guide + Media Kit

May/June 2025 Issue

Get Updates in your inbox

Stay up to date on industry trends, best practices, news and more.

Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn

Contact us at info@communityrecmag.com

  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • E-Newsletter
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us

The Current Issue

The Latest from CO

  • Jason Kunzman on Navigating Societal Divides
  • YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago Names Adam Alonso as Next President and CEO
  • Daxko Announces Integration With GoFundMe Pro to Empower Smarter Fundraising for Nonprofits
  • Food Education Program Promotes Healthy Lifestyles at Central Lincoln County YMCA

© 2025 Community Rec Magazine. Published by Peake Media.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Community
    • Facility Development
    • Programming
    • Operations
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • E-Newsletter
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
  • On-Demand
  • Continuing Education
    • Community Rec Leadership Summit
    • Webinars
    • Pickleball Innovators
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
    • Case Studies
  • Podcast
  • Buyer’s Guide

© 2025 Community Rec Magazine. Published by Peake Media.