New Employees

For new employees the first few days on the job are significant. A good orientation program will dramatically impact a new employee’s learning, motivation, productivity, satisfaction and retention.

The responsibility for an effective orientation program rests primarily with the leader/supervisor, but that responsibility should also be shared with an ‘orientation buddy’, the work team and the new employee. Orientation is an ongoing process over weeks or months, rather than an event.

Information should be available and accessible to an employee as needed (just in time rather than imposed information overload).

The orientation needs vary with each employee and are related to individual learning styles. Some employees prefer personal interaction and support, some prefer observation, some prefer online access to information and resources, and some prefer a lot of information up-front while others prefer more manageable ‘chunks’. All need to feel supported and comfortable enough to ask questions.

Orientation Information and Resources: