So whether you are a company of 2, 20 or 200 people an induction is just as critical to the recruitment process as the interview stages. This is essential to help a new member of staff make that transition from candidate to employee and to ensure they feel welcomed, valued and included from Day 1 with your business.
An induction process should be prepared and planned for with someone responsible for the new inductee from the word go and for the duration of the induction programme. You may have a standard induction to follow with each and every new employee but you will also need to consider the individual needs of the new team member and your Company. With such information you will know which areas are most appropriate to be covered and therefore for the induction programme to be adapted accordingly.
So the first point of contact is on Day 1 and it is absolutely imperative that everyone in your company is expecting the new starter; what their name is and what their role is. So they should be welcomed at Reception and taken to be introduced to their new team. Now on day 1 the introductions may be limited to the direct team who they will be working with day in and day out. However, over the forth coming days or weeks they will need to be introduced to other employees who form the fuller organisation.
The first day can often bring just as many anxieties and nerves as the interview or assessment stages, so it’s really useful to answer all the little questions as soon as possible to diminish such fears. So show the new starter their desk, where to put their bag, where the toilets are, explaining how and when breaks happen, how to use the phone and give them time to become familiar with their new space and make their desk area feel like their own.
More formally it will be necessary to dot the i’s and cross all the t’s with regards to outstanding paperwork e.g. contract of employment signed, bank details completed for their salary to be paid, contact details provided etc. This should be supported with a Health and Safety overview so the new employee knows what to do in the case of fire or an emergency, assess their work station area for comfort and risk, awareness of First Aid support available in the work area.
The employee will then require a copy of your business policies & procedures / handbook for some light reading. But remember, don’t expect your new starter to read all of this on their first day as this will just create information overload! Encourage them to read it at their leisure perhaps when they have 20minutes or so in between their induction schedule. You should also spend some time reminding the new employee of their role and responsibilities and having some informal discussion time to make them aware of what will be happening over the next few days and allowing them to ask any questions they may of you.
Induction is essential to make a new employee feel welcomed, valued and included; in turn your business will see the benefit through a fully trained, informed, motivated and dedicated team member who is with you for the long term.
Hayley Ramm writing from Exclusive Ltd
