The only onboarding & induction checklist you need

The right first impression goes a long way, but it isn't always easy. Onboarding a new team member can be time consuming. There's the mountains of paperwork and the necessary introductions to get through. There are contracts to be signed, policy documents, and welcome packs to deliver.

Add to that induction videos and training modules, and it's often a much bigger process than many people realize. The onboarding process also sets the tone for your new employee. Their first impression of your business really matters. Did you know that after a positive onboarding experience, eighty two percent of employees are more likely to stay with that company for three years?

And effective onboarding can increase employee performance by eleven percent. That's why getting it right is absolutely vital for your business. Here are some tips to help you get it right every single time.

While a coffee shout is fun, it's important to get the legal stuff done early and done well. So make sure your business has done all of the necessary steps for compliance. Check the new employee has the legal right to work. Give them a written employment contract signed by the necessary parties. Register them for all relevant tax obligations and share any required documentation. These steps are very important. Skip them or get them wrong, and you could face thousands in penalties as a result.

To make your new team member's first day a little less overwhelming, try getting some of their onboarding tasks done even before they walk through the door. Prepare their workspace, sort out their equipment, logins, and parking, or for remote workers, ship their equipment early to avoid any issues with potential postal delays. Test their tech and ensure they have access to all necessary software and programs and share key documents for digital acknowledgment, like policies and codes of conduct. A little preparation makes the first day easier for everyone.

The sooner everyone knows your new hire, the sooner they'll feel at home. So the next step might be to inform the team about the new hire's role, start date, and where they fit in. Send a welcome message or video to the team.

Provide the new hire with an induction schedule covering tools, training, and who to go to for what. You should even create a welcome pack with snacks or company merch to help them feel really comfortable. Then next, it's time for day one.

An amazing first day should have your employee buzzing and excited to work for your business. Give them a tour and connect them with the right people in the team. Set up a meeting with their new manager so they can go over their goals and ask any questions.

And don't forget, it's important to give them time to settle in. There's always a lot of information to take on board, so it's good to have a break. Once you've nailed day one and your employee is off to a brilliant start, keep going. Onboarding doesn't stop once the first day is over.

Keep supporting your employee as they find their feet. For example, in the first week, you could assign small low pressure tasks to really ease them in. Schedule ongoing one to ones with key team members and keep feedback flowing. Remember to check-in regularly, maybe even over a coffee, and offer targeted support if they're finding elements of their work a little challenging.

And lastly, with the onboarding process, don't forget to ask for feedback so you know what's working well and what could work better. It's a lot, but don't worry. Employment Hero is here to help. The Employment Hero onboarding workflow, part of our all in one employment operating system, lets you create and assign your own onboarding checklists so you have a clear set of actions for each new employee.

It can even automate crucial paperwork and send information to your new employee directly, such as policy acknowledgments and digital contracts. To book a demo or speak to a specialist, get in touch today.