It is common for an employee to feel anxious on the first day. There is a lot to be concerned about, such as making friends and learning how to work within the chain of production or service. Most of this is something the employee will have to do on his or her own, but that does not mean the employer has no responsibilities, which makes this new employee orientation checklist important.
1. Pre-Welcome
One thing that must be included in a new employee orientation checklist is the pre-welcome, which could be a new employee welcome email, text, or even call. You can combine these, or just send one to the new hire. The key here is to ensure that the employee feels welcomed and knows what to expect on that first day.
2. First-Day Awesomeness
The next thing that needs to be included in a new employee orientation checklist is a detailed plan. The day must include an enthusiastic reception and a personalized welcome. What you want to do is try to show the new hire that he or she has made a great choice and that this position was meant for him or her. You want to help the employee feel like he or she belongs by introducing him or her to the entire team.
3. Create a Relationship
The point of having a good new employee orientation checklist is to find effective ways to keep new hires as long as possible, so the new employee orientation checklist should include teaching the new hire a little more about the company. Not only should the history be highlighted but also the mission statement. You want the employee to feel like his or her input will help the company’s overall goal, and you want the new hire to relate to the company, which helps establish a connection.
4. Leadership Connect
Another thing that is important during that fresh employee period is ensuring that he or she knows the leadership. Making sure that leadership is clearly pointed out helps an employee know who or where to go for guidance. One of the worst things that some employers do is forget to connect new employees to the right people, which can make things confusing to a new hire. This could be discouraging, which makes it a vital part of any new employee orientation checklist.
5. Fortify Culture
Figuring out how to welcome new employees can be overwhelming sometimes, but this is vital. For example, every business does things a little differently, so explaining the culture within a business is important. Some businesses want to push a formal culture, but there are others that are a little more laid back. These are the kinds of things that new hires need to know. It is a good idea to tell new hires about ‘Casual Fridays’ or how the entire team has a potluck every month. Little details like these are important to share with new hires.
6. Paperwork Is a Must
It is important to get through the new employee paperwork, and it should be done as quickly as possible. There is a lot that a new employee has to learn. It is wise to ensure that all documents are read and signed. It might also be a good idea to ensure that the new hire knows the rules of conduct and compliance associated with this position. Getting all these formalities out of the way makes it easier to continue with some of the initial steps in a new employee orientation checklist.
7. Get to the Policies
Employees want to know the policies that are going to affect them directly. There is no way you are going to be able to touch on every policy set by the company nor will the employee be able to absorb all that information. The best thing you can do is go through some of the most important policies. This should include topics such as leave and sick time. A new hire will also want to know the company’s policy on vacation time. Go over expense reporting and reimbursement policies as well.
8. Unanswered Questions
New hires are sometimes overwhelmed during orientation and those initial first days, which is perfectly normal. This might make a new hire forget to ask certain questions. You want to make sure that new employees know where to go to get additional questions answered. This also applies to hires who are too nervous to ask questions or who might have forgotten a thing or two that was gone over during those first few days.
9. Safety, Safety, Safety
One very important thing to go over is any known hazards within the work environment. This is something that should be very detailed to ensure that the new hire knows how to remain safe while working. It is also important to talk about safety precautions that employees are expected to take, which could include things like wearing protective gear or avoiding certain equipment that the new hire might not be trained to use just yet. The point is to go over everything that might be dangerous to a new hire.
10. Tools and Equipment
There is likely going to be new tools or equipment that new employees will have to use. Orientation is the perfect time to introduce hires to these tools or the equipment that might be necessary. Granted, some equipment or tools will not be easily mastered, so be sure to make room for some training, but at least new hires should be aware of what they might be using. Be sure to pair the new hire with someone who understands the equipment or tools during training to ensure new employees can handle the workload.
Conclusion
Training a new employee properly ensures productivity remains healthy. Making sure this person feels welcomed and knows how he or she fits within the company helps retain new hires. This is important, especially with so many companies dealing with low-engagement amongst employees. Training and orientation might seem tedious, but it is a vital investment made by companies that know how important it is to create successful and long-lasting employees.
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