Getting new employees off to a good start is the responsibility of the Manager and all the current employees. In most businesses, a new employee will be spending more time with their co-workers than with the Manager, so it is critical for all employees to understand their role in the orientation and training of new hires. Here are a few hints for getting new employees off to a good start:
- Be sure that all documentation—federal, state, company—is completed on the first day and filed appropriately. (W-4’s, I-9’s, ID verification, contact sheets, benefit information, etc.)
- Review the documents associated with their employment if they have not been fully covered in the interview process. (Employee Handbook, Job Description, Emergency Procedures, Safety Checklists, etc.)
- Encourage current employees to help bring the new employee up-to-speed as rapidly as possible. Remind them that the faster the new employees learn their job, the sooner that everyone can focus on their own jobs.
- The Manager should have some contact with a new employee every day for the first week or so to see how they are getting along, offer encouragement, and answer any questions they may have.
Failure to have documents signed and placed in the employee’s personnel file within the first few days of employment typically leads to paperwork and legal nightmares down the road.