Define Orientation: What is an Effective Employee Orientation?

A Sample New Employee Orientation Program

Build your new employee orientation presentation package. Define orientation, and what you want for your employees. Use a sample new employee orientation program to effectively welcome new employees.

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Define Orientation - What do You Want to Communicate?

A Sample New Employee Orientation Program - The First Day on the Job:

• No matter how busy you are, welcome your new employee – do not abandon him/her. If you do not have time to spend with the new employee, assign someone to that responsibility.

• Discuss the plan for first day. Review the package you have prepared (above) for the new employee.

• Introduce the employee to other staff members.

• Show the new employee around the office: show them the lunch room, the washrooms, the emergency exits. If you have a large facility, try to have the facility lay-out mapped out and give the new employee a map (this is usually required for your safety plan (link to safety checklist) also).

• Review the job description and organizational charts with the employee.

• Explain parking, ride sharing and transportation services available.

• Review telephone, fax, e-mail, and Internet use and policies.

• Review the hours of work, attendance expectations (how to handle lateness or absences – who to call, what the policies are) and vacation entitlements. Also discuss holidays the company pays for (e.g. Christmas Day?).

• If you haven’t already given the new employee the employee handbook (link) (company policies and practices book) and benefits package or materials, give them to the employee now. Ask them to review the documents carefully and get back to you, or the appropriate person, with any questions or requirements for clarification. If forms need to be filled out (for taxes, benefits, payroll, etc.), have them do it on the first day or give them the forms in a separate package and have them bring it back the next day.

• Your offer letter will have included mention of a probationary period, remind the new employee of that period. Discuss the company’s process for performance evaluations, and how the employee will be evaluated.

• Discuss security in terms of locking file cabinets, passwords for voice mail and/or computers, locking access doors, etc.

Create a checklist for the new employee orientation. Then make sure that as you work through the checklist, you have agreement from your new employee that they are aware of the information and understand it.

Once you’ve completed the new employee orientation, usually in the first week, have a sign off procedure for both the new employee and you (or the individual who was assigned to handle the orientation). You want to make sure that nothing important has been overlooked or forgotten.

Follow up with the new employee during the next week, then the next month, then the six months probation review and finally the annual performance review (use your employee performance evaluations program). Do not leave issues alone … hoping they will fix themselves. Make sure that you discuss issues before they become reasons for termination and you end up firing employees.

If you have concerns about performance or other issues, address them directly and early.

It is difficult finding good people: when you hire new employees, ensure that you provide enough training and orientation to help your employees become successful additions to your team and to ensure that you retain your employees.

Your small business growth depends on the quality of the people you hire. Once you've hired them, define orientation as a priority. Effective employee orientation will jump-start the training cycle and provide stronger alignment between the job descriptions and the performance evaluations (and performance results).

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Read More:

Visit New Employee Orientation checklist to read part 2 of 2 (Part 1 is this page - Define Orientation).

Visit Performance Evaluations to connect evaluations and orientation.

Return from Define Orientation to Role of Human Resources.

Return from Define Orientation to More for Small Business.