Welcome to the indispensable onboarding checklist designed to transform your new employees into dedicated team members. At enlightenHR, we understand that the journey from newcomer to integral team player is pivotal— it sets the stage for engagement, job satisfaction, and long-term retention.
Yet, a staggering 60% of companies don’t provide clear objectives for their newcomers, and a mere 12% of employees give their company’s onboarding process the thumbs up. This gap highlights an opportunity—a chance for your business to shine by crafting an exceptional onboarding experience.
And that’s exactly where we come in. Whether you’re an SME in Devon, a bustling start-up in Bristol, or a growing enterprise in Swindon, we’ve got the blueprint to ensure your onboarding process is nothing short of exemplary.
Ready to onboard with excellence? Let’s get started.
Before your new hire starts
- Talk to the new employee’s future manager to understand their aims and objectives for the first few weeks
- Get all the essential documents ready, including induction checklists, new starter forms and an employee handbook
- Make sure they have a clean, tidy workstation with all the equipment they’ll need
- Create accounts for them to access email, software and any websites essential for their role
- Send them any information you’d like them to read before they start, giving them enough time to digest it
Day 1
- Verify their ID and right to work in the UK and go over their P45, if applicable. Ideally you should do all Right to Work checks in advance of the new employee’s first day. However, if you haven’t, that has to be your number 1 priority as they cannot commence employment with you until those checks are completed.
- Introduce your newbie to the rest of the team and show them around the office. A warm welcome goes a long way
- Provide them with all the materials they need to get the hang of their new role
- Walk them through key health and safety points, like the location of fire exits and the first aid kit
- Explain precisely what they’ll be doing and how their role contributes to the bigger picture
- Make them aware of those things they may not like to ask on Day 1, e.g. washroom facilities and arrangements for breaks and lunch
Week 1
- Assign them a challenging-yet-doable project that showcases their skills without overwhelming them
- Make sure they’ve read and filled out all relevant documents, such as employment contracts and induction checklists
- Set clear goals and milestones for their probation period and schedule regular probation review meetings
Month 1
- Share your company’s long-term goals and how you envision them contributing to the journey
- Check in with them to ensure they’re happy in their role and crystal clear about your expectations. enlightenHR can provide probation review forms to guide and record these conversations
- Help them build relationships with colleagues who they’ll be working closely with
With this onboarding checklist in hand, you’re all set. But as always, if you need a hand, get in touch.
Holly Mapstone is an HR expert and specialises in helping those of you in the SME sector with all of your HR needs.
Consultancy allows Holly to be agile and to adapt her style and support to suit the needs of her clients. Building strong working relationships allows Holly to deliver improvements, while also aligning people strategy to business outcomes and promoting resilient and positive cultures.
Need Advice?
If you need a hand with any of this, or anything else when it comes to the people and practices in your business, we’d love to help. We are always happy to debate the pros/cons, dos/don’ts with you so please do talk to us if we can help in any way, we are here to support you. Just give us a call and arrange a free consultation. You can talk to Alison directly on 07967 221595 or email info@enlightenhr.com
