Disney English’s Onboarding Buddy Program

By Glen Loveland, Assistant HR Manager, Foreign Employee Relations, Disney English

At Disney English, we created a guide for our Onboarding Buddy Program for new hires.

Purpose

The purpose of the Buddy Program is to help new Cast Members become more comfortable in their new role in a shorter period of time. The Buddy will provide a one-point access to questions about the Center, procedures (requesting time off, etc.), as well as a source of support, advice, and encouragement for the new trainer. The goal of the Buddy Program is to help new hires feel at home and help them to become a contributing member to the Center.

Benefits

• Provides career development to existing Cast Members to be guides to new employees.
• Allows the new hire to learn the Center and organization in a manageable way.
• Provides an opportunity for employees to share accumulated knowledge and experience.

What a New Hire Can Expect From Their Buddy

• Assistance in understanding the culture of Disney English and how to get things done.
• Provide information. If your Buddy is unable to get it for you, they’ll know who to go to.
• Assistance in building networks and insight into how to make them more productive and effective.

Guidelines

• Purpose: The Buddy Program should be used to assist the new hire in finding out what’s “normal” for the organization. It is not a Learning and Development initiative.
• Management support: The Buddy Program will be supported by managers.
• Role of CM and LLD: The Buddy Program is not a replacement for the role of managers.

Role of the Buddy

• Contact the new hire as soon as possible.
• Introduce the new hire to co-workers and other key people.
• Explain Center procedures. Ensure the employee knows where things are (First Aid kit, realia, etc.). Explain who to contact for different issues (LLD/IT/HR, etc.).
• Answer any questions the employee may have.
• Assist the new hire with sorting out all of the organization’s acronyms.
• Most importantly, give encouragement.

Tips for Buddies

• Be patient and positive. Don’t try to cover everything right away.
• Listening is very important (sometimes more important than giving advice).
• Don’t try to force a relationship; it takes time.
• Look for a preferred communication style from the new hire.
• Don’t be judgmental.

Role of the New Cast Member

• Allow your Buddy to share his/her knowledge of what’s “normal” in the organization and develop a better understanding of the culture.
• Try to meet regularly with your Buddy and establish ground rules on the best way to communicate (face to face, text message, e-mail, etc.).
• Accept constructive criticism.

Buddy Selection Criteria:

An Academic Cast Member that:

• Is committed to his or her job.
• Demonstrates high performance.
• Has patience and good communication skills.
• Is willing to help.
• Is a peer to the new Cast Member.
• Is committed to the mission, vision, and values of Disney English.
• Is proud of Disney English and its role within The Walt Disney Company.

Meetings with New Hires

• Provide general advice, guidance, and encouragement.
• Discuss any non-urgent issues the employee may have.
• Ensure the new hire is feeling productive and effective in his or her role at the Center.
• Explain the culture of the organization and how to quickly make valuable contributions.

Sample Questions for Discussion Purposes

• Do you feel welcomed by everyone in the company?
• Are you beginning to feel “at home” in the Center? In China?
• Are you receiving enough support and encouragement?
• Do you feel you are moving toward being more productive and efficient in your position?

Tips

• Be supportive of the organization and employees at all times.
• Discourage gossip and speculation.

Buddy E-mail or Phone Call

• Contact new hires by phone or e-mail prior to their arrival at the Center.
• Introduce yourself and warmly welcome them to their future center.
• Confirm start date, time, and location.
• Inform the new hire that you look forward to meeting him or her. You will make introductions and show him or her around the Center.
• Arrange to meet at a designated time and place on the first day.
• End the conversation by giving your phone number and e-mail address, in the event the new hire has questions before his or her first day at the Center.

E-mail Announcing New Hire

(to Center employees from LLD)

I am delighted to announce that (new Cast Member) is joining our Center as (job title) in (Center name). (Insert brief history on the new employee). Please do everything you can to make him/her feel welcome!

When they start at the Center, (name and title of Buddy) will be assigned the role of “Buddy” to (new employee). Many of you will be assisting (Buddy) in helping (new employee name) become a productive member of our team.

Please make a point of welcoming (new employee) to our Center on his/her first day, (date).

(Name of LLD)

Glen Loveland is assistant HR manager, Foreign Employee Relations at Disney English, The Walt Disney Company Ltd., in Beijing, China. For more information, visit www.disneyenglish.com.