Onboarding Checklist For Your New Hire’s First Day

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It’s one crucial factor in the running of your company since it helps all employees know from day one what your culture is like and what they’re supposed to do.

In some studies, it has been noted that companies with a robust onboarding process improve new hire retention by 82 percent and productivity by at least 70 percent. You should also remember that your new hire’s onboarding experience sets a precedent for the rest of their time in the company. This is why it only makes sense to structure it in a way that benefits everyone.

If you work with your company’s hiring manager, or are one, below is a basic onboarding checklist for your new hire’s first day at work.

Prepare the New Employee’s Workstation

Before the new hire comes in on their first day, make sure they have everything they need to start their work right. This includes setting up their company accounts, preparing their workspace, and printing their company ID with a card printer. You can even add in a small welcome gift to make them feel they belong, that is, if you’re feeling generous.

Doing all this early-on helps your first-day onboarding session run smoothly. Now, all you need to do lead them to their desk once they arrive.

Welcome Them to the Office

Have someone greet the new hire once they arrive at the workplace. This could be the hiring manager, someone from HR, or their direct supervisor. This will foster a sense of belonging and inclusion.

Lead them first to their desk and then give them a brief tour of the office. Along the way, introduce them to their co-workers and the rest of the company. You should also make sure they know where to go and who to talk to if they have any questions.

Inform Them of Company Policies

Now that you’re done with all the pleasantries, it’s time to introduce to them the different company policies your business has. These are usually laid out in the company handbook and may include provisions on attendance, conduct, confidentiality, and anti-discrimination, among others.

You can also use this time to give them an overview of the company culture and inform them of what they can do in specific scenarios, such as asking for time off, experiencing harassment, etc.

Help the New Hire Fill Out HR Paperwork

Before their first day, prepare all the relevant paperwork and outline all legal requirements the new hire needs to sign and provide. These include:

• Employment contract
• Form TD1 Personal Tax Credits Return
• Social insurance number (SIN)
• Relevant provincial requirements

Provide clear instructions and answer any questions they may have regarding these documents. Also, give them a timeline for completing all of their pre-employment requirements so they can schedule things accordingly.

Provide Role-Based Training

After accomplishing the company orientation and filling out the required paperwork, it’s time to ease the new hire into their new role. The new employee’s direct supervisor is ideal for this step.

Here, the supervisor can reintroduce the new hire’s expected tasks and show them how to use the company’s preferred tools (if the new hire doesn’t already know how these work). The new employee should also be made aware of the company’s expectations when it comes to the workflow and expected output.

Take note that this step can take more than one shift, especially if the role is highly technical or involves a wide array of tasks.

Check Back at the End of the Day

Once the workday is over, approach your new hire and talk to them about their first day. This will help you assess how well they’ve adjusted to the company on their first day. Answer any questions they may have, provide assurance if necessary, and give them some advice on how to acclimatize to their new workplace.

Onboarding can’t be accomplished in a mere eight hours, but a great first day helps set up an excellent working experience for the new hire and the rest of the company.