01/ 22/ 2008
When you hire new employees in your small business, do you just throw them into their new position? If you do and leave them to their own devices to find supplies and wonder when their first paycheck will come, you might consider establishing a structured new-employee orientation program to set them in the right direction.
Here are five things that you might try to work into your schedule:
- Personnel and tax forms. Not everyone's favorite paperwork to do, but it is the law, of course. Forms like the new I-9 and W-4 are must-haves. You might also consider placing an employee handbook receipt in the new employee's personnel file along with tax forms and benefit information.
- Employee handbook. If you don't have an employee handbook that covers topics such as dress code, sick leave, e-mail policy and benefits, the NFIB Legal Foundation has put together a guide to help you create one for your small business (.)
- Benefits. Though benefits will definitely be covered in your employee handbook, taking the time to talk about specific benefits is very helpful to new employees. This point in the orientation would be ideal for completing enrollment forms for health care too.
- Coworker introductions. Sometimes small talk for the new employee is tough. But taking the time to walk them around and introduce them quickly to the established staff will help break the ice for future encounters. Perhaps the new employee graduated from the same high school as your office manager or just returned from a vacation at the same destination as your receptionist. Helping to make these small connections will speed the process at which your new employee is integrated.
- Lunch. Your schedule as a small-business owner is full and busy, but taking an hour out of your day for a casual and friendly lunch after orientation would be a great way to ease the nerves and worries for the new employee. Use this time to answer any questions that might have come up during orientation. This would also be a great time to explain your company's vision, mission and culture.
The new employee orientation you establish for your small business will differ from that of the business next door. Industry specifics, safety, benefits and a dozen other topics vary from business to business. But by taking half a day to welcome new employees and get them started on the right foot, you're helping to ensure their success as an employee—and your success as a boss—from that first day forward.
