New Employees
“Orientation has a direct impact on future productivity, performance and job satisfaction. And you – the supervisor – play a key role in the success of the orientation process.”
- Business and Legal Reports
Orientation
Make sure each employee fills out paperwork in Human Resources on the first day; give each new employee a copy of his/her job description, dress code standards, fire safety orientation. Each new full-time employee must attend New Staff/Faculty Orientation and State Mandated training within thirty (30) days of being hired.
Progress
Each new full-time staff needs a written evaluation every two months. At the end of six months – if they are staying – the supervisor writes a congratulatory letter to the employee (copy goes in their personnel file).
Welcome
Do not just stick a new employee in the corner with a manual and a mentor to ask questions to. Give the employee a complete tour of the campus and make them feel welcome. Introduce them to all other employees in the department and give them a list of what each of those employees do. Order their business cards, keys and email.
Explain the policies
Explain to the employee who to call when they will be out sick, if that person isn’t available then who, who do they get supplies from, answer all questions about work hours, pay, safety and security, where the break room and restrooms are and what is their lunch hour.
Discuss job standards
Explain to employee what is expected and how it will be measured, set goals to be completed by the end of the probationary period and review them every two months.
Mentor
Provide the new employee with someone who they can go to in case of questions but make sure that the person you choose is a willing participant. You don’t want someone who will tell the new employee everything that is wrong with the office.
Learn by doing
Remember adults learn faster by doing rather than by reading. Instead of giving them a manual to read, have them sit with someone and watch how they do the job.
Assign meaningful work
Don’t have new employees shredding and sitting in a corner. That would not be a good beginning.