Sample Employee Orientations

New Employees

Congratulations, you have a new employee starting soon. If you don’t already have a new hire orientation in progress, now is the time to start. Sample employee orientations are available online and at business consulting companies. During your employee’s first few months, you want him to learn his new job while feeling both comfortable in the office and with his job responsibilities.

Procedures for your new hire orientation can be divided up by the human resource department and direct supervisor.

Sample Employee Orientations

The first thing to keep in mind is that your employee orientation is not a one day overview, but should be an ongoing process. As your employee’s job responsibilities increase, continue to introduce him to new company aspects, as well as remind him of important policies.

Different jobs will need different orientation procedures. Keep files for each job outlining the individual policies for each position.

Many companies extend orientation over a few days or a few months, depending on the job and the responsibilities.

The First Day

The first day is the most overwhelming for someone starting a new job. This is a great time to make him feel welcome and get the essential paperwork filled out.

When he first arrives, have him fill out the W-4, I-9, emergency info, and any other important forms your human resource department needs. Next give him a copy of the employee handbook and have him sign a form acknowledging he has received it.

The Orientation

Since you have him in the conference room, now is a perfect time to review the company and procedures. Make sure you include:

• Your company history, mission, and business ethics: Ensure that he understands who he is working for and what you stand for so he can better explain it to clients.

• General procedures and policies: Include email and internet rules, breaks, lunch, clocking in and out, personal phone calls, and other policies your office implements. Termination and warnings should also be reviewed at this time. It will help to have a checklist that you review with him. When you are done, have him initial it, and give him a copy.

• Job specific procedures (how to format a fax, business reports which printers to use, requesting time with the boss, putting in an order or request, and other similar processes.) This orientation process may be given by his direct supervisor or a co-worker. Again, include a checklist so all the important aspects are discussed.

• Benefits: Include all benefits such as insurance, vacation, health, holidays, child care, any memberships your employees get, and so on. Be sure to remind him when he is eligible for certain benefits that may not kick in right away, such as health care.

• Pay policy: Include the pay period, pay scale, overtime, and raises (if commission is applicable, review how he can make the most money working for you.)

The Tour

As soon as you are done with the paperwork and technical aspect, you will want to begin with an office tour before having him start any job responsibilities for the day. Introduce him to everyone in the office, including those he will not work with on a daily basis. If your office is large, you can start him on his floor and introduce him to other areas as his job requirements dictate. However, be sure he meets the key people he will be working with.

During the office tour, be sure to show him:

• His personal work space
• Offices of those he will be working with
• Meeting rooms
• Where the fax and copy machine are
• Bathrooms / Break rooms
• Parking spaces, if assigned
• Other important areas of the office

The Job

Once you have introduced your new employee to the office, fellow workers, and procedures, it is time to teach him his job responsibilities. Follow an outline slowly introducing new responsibilities each day.

Other Resources

Here are some sample employee orientations and articles to help you prepare:

• Sample Employee Orientation Check List
• New Employee Orientations article
• National Federation of Independent Businesss
• Industry Resources