A new employee orientation checklist can have a huge impact on your retention and employee turnover.
You might be an HR manager, but you’re also an employee. And that means you were once a new hire yourself.
Now try to imagine this scenario:
You labored over your resume and revised it several times before submitting it. You spent hours writing a killer cover letter. You bested the applicant tracking system. You nailed the interview, negotiated an offer, and bought a whole new work wardrobe. You’re excited for your new job.
But your first day doesn’t go as planned. No one explains anything to you. An HR assistant points you to your desk and walks away. There are no introductions, only a stack of papers on your desk that you assume you need to fill out. Are you even in the right place?
Don't return to the "old" days of HR
As an HR manager — and even if you're not — you probably can’t imagine subjecting a new employee to a first day like that. But what goes into a seamless new employee orientation? What should you do? And when? What does a new employee need to know?
Have you ever asked these questions and tried to make a list to anticipate a new employee’s every need, but ended up wondering, “What else?” If so, this list is for you: the ultimate new employee orientation checklist.
This list is not in order of priority. You know your company’s specific needs better than we do, so skip any item that doesn't apply. Just be sure to pay extra attention to those that matter most, and consider topics you may have overlooked in the past.
Why do you need an employee onboarding checklist?
The benefits of an orientation checklist are numerous.
Consider what type of first impression you want to make. Think about information a new employee should know on their first day, first week, and first month. You want them to leave their first day feeling ready to come back and work for your company.
While much of the first impression involves other employees and the work itself, as the on-deck HR professional who serves as a first point of contact, you have a lot of control over the foot your company puts forward. In fact, the Human Capital Institute[1] states that experience-driven onboarding can improve employee retention by as much as 82%.
If you’re looking for a way to make your job easier, rockstar employee onboarding software may be the answer. Onboarding software is like a cheat sheet for tracking this process, but it does much more. Younger employees, particularly Millennials and Gen Zers, already know how to use technology and love the tools that make their lives easier.
Although you need to examine your processes to make new hire onboarding easier, a software platform is a great place to start.
How to use this new employee orientation checklist
Use this checklist in full or in part, depending on items and sections relevant to your company and your processes.
Make a copy of it. Email it to HR department employees. Talk about it in your weekly team meetings. Feel free to expand upon it or shrink it.
Company introductions
Business overview, purpose of the company, products/services offered
Corporate culture to get the vibe of the business.
Mission statement: why the company exists.
Hierarchy/departmental structure/org chart: a basic outline of who reports to whom.
Forms to complete (digital or paper)
Income tax withholding, e.g. W-4 or I-9
Background check form
Drug test form
Direct deposit form
Employee acknowledgment, agreement, and consent form (including an arbitration agreement)
Explanation of benefits and corresponding forms
Insurance: health/dental/vision/life/accident
Retirement, 401(k), IRA
Employee assistance program (EAP)
Childcare benefits
Parental leave/PTO/sick leave
Dependent care
Incentive and bonus programs
Contract, NDA, bonus structure, and pay statement
Employee wellness program
Training and continuing education
Stock options or profit sharing
Administrative processes and procedures
Office/desk/workstation
Computer username and password
E-mail
Keys/access card
ID badge
Safety and emergency procedures
Absences
Data security
Mail (incoming and outgoing)
Business cards
Purchase requests
Telephones
Conference rooms
Expense reports
Office policies
Anti-harassment/discrimination
Diversity/inclusion
Vacation and sick leave
FMLA/leaves of absence
Overtime
Dress code
Personal conduct standards
Progressive discipline
Termination standards
Security protocols
Confidentiality
Safety
Injury reporting
Emergency procedures
E-mail and internet usage
Building map (if applicable)
Building tour
Entrances and exits
Restrooms
Break rooms
Workstation, including the setup
Copy room
Mailroom
Vending machines
Water fountains
Office supplies
Emergency exits
Fire alarm pulls
Janitorial closet for spills
Conference rooms/meeting rooms
Staff introductions
HR team
Immediate supervisor
Colleagues with the same supervisor
IT team
Administrative staff
CEO/owner, if the company is small
Do you really need to do everything on this new employee orientation checklist?
No. We don’t know your company like you do. It’s up to you to pick and choose what elements of this list are valuable to you, and which things you can skip.
What’s on your new employee orientation checklist?
Anything we missed? Anything that you’d want to see on an updated list? Tell us about it in the comments below.
Want more help onboarding your new hires?
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