Welcome to Work: Creating a Successful New Employee Orientation

Starting a new job is incredibly stressful for the individual making their debut. In some cases, the new employee is thrown into an office and expected to get started right away. But what about the transitioning process? How is the new kid on the block supposed to get acquainted with the company's procedures and policies and make a stellar impression? If your company is in the habit of dropping a new worker in his or her seat without so much as an operational guide, you might want to think about conducting an employee orientation.

An employee orientation allows the new hire to easily transition into a new environment. It also gives the company the opportunity to set expectations and give a clear idea of the culture within the office. Here are a few tips for conducting an effective orientation:

Basics

You'll want to brainstorm any and all ideas for creating an orientation program. Consider how long the orientation will last and what should be included. Some programs are scheduled for one day, whereas others last the length of an employee's probationary period. It will all depend on how long you think it will take the new hire to become well acquainted. You'll also want to ponder all the little pieces of information the newbie might benefit from.

Here are some ideas to consider:

• Expected work hours.
• Attendance and tardiness policies.
• Payroll periods.
• Rate of pay.
• Health benefits.
• Vacation time.
• 401(k) plan.
• Disability insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Overtime.
• Building layout and logistics.
• Parking.
• Breaks.
• Employee review practices.

Your company will probably have more specific requirements, so be sure to lay them all out on the table.

Discuss

As mentioned above, an orientation is the perfect time to reveal the company's expectations and philosophies. Be sure to answer a few key questions for the new employee:

• What is most important to the company?
• What is the company's culture?
• What is the company's elevator statement?
• Where should I direct any questions or concerns?

You may want to consider having a little question and answer session for the new employee as he or she may have other inquiries.

Another tactic some companies have implemented is providing the employee with a "sponsor" for a certain period of time during the beginning of their employment. This allows the new hire to make friends with someone in the office and also offers the opportunity to get acclimated with help from a veteran.

Information

Some things would just take too much time to go over word for word, so you'll want to provide the new employee with a few pieces of information, including:

• Employee handbook.
• Health insurance forms.
• COBRA information.
• Direct deposit forms.
• Company brochures, business cards or other company literature.
• Life insurance information.
• 401(k) information.
• Any other benefits information.
• Emergency procedures guide.

Tour

If you're planning a lengthy orientation session, consider having the new worker tour the entire company and sit in on various operations. This will give them the chance to really dive into the way business is done. It's also a great way to break the ice between the new person and others in the office. I've experienced this and I must say that it was extremely helpful in creating a cohesive unit across all of the departments.

There's no doubt that employee orientation takes time, but it's also quite effective in lowering turnover and easing the stress of transition. Be sure to take your time in devising an orientation strategy so that you can create one that is comprehensive and truly beneficial to the employee and the company. Your new hires will be grateful for the guidance and will quickly find themselves ready to jump into their new positions.