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How to prepare an employee orientation program checklist (with examples)

How to prepare an employee orientation program checklist (with examples)

What is the purpose of the orientation program for new employees?

A new employee orientation program is an integral part of the onboarding process, although they are not the same thing. The latter is a continuous process that progresses until the employee is fully settled in with the company. On the other hand, a new employee orientation program is a company action that is taken typically during an employee’s first day.

This orientation is important because each company has its unique way of operating. New employees have to be accustomed to the work culture, know what their benefits are, and who they are working with, and the old employees also have to be introduced to the new hire for a smoother rapport. All of this can be made possible by holding a successful new employee orientation program.

A new employee orientation program checklist template

By having a reliable checklist, the new employee orientation program will become beneficial not only for the new employee but also to you and your colleagues. Make sure that you include all the necessary details so the new hire will acclimate a lot faster in their new role.

To prevent information overload, try not to have the orientation all in one day. A better way to do it is to divide the orientation into segments on different days so the new employee will have ample time to absorb the information as they go along.

From the HR department, your new employee orientation program checklist should include:

  • Mandatory forms for non-citizens or non-permanent residents that show the approval of the Malaysian Director General of Labour regarding their work status.

  • A signed employee contract.

  • Employee acknowledgement and consent form.

  • Other forms your company will require the new hire should pass.

For their Company benefits, your new employee orientation program checklist should include:

  • The complete description of the Health Insurance package that they will receive.

  • Their access to company assets such as a phone or a laptop.

  • Available training if there is any.

For company policies, your new employee orientation checklist program should include:

  • Their copy of the employee handbook.

  • Employee dress code policy.

  • Hours of work they have to render per week.

For simple procedures in the workplace, your new employee orientation program checklist should include:

  • Showing them how to enter and leave the office.

  • Telling them where the fire exits are in case of emergencies.

  • Explaining how to request leaves.

  • Setting a time to have their pictures taken for their employee ID.

For one-on-one with the manager, your new employee orientation program checklist should include:

  • Taking them for an office tour.

  • Showing the meeting rooms and explaining the booking process.

  • Showing the pantry and enumerating the lunch options.

  • Introducing the new hire to team members.

  • Assigning a mentor to help the new hire settle in and ensure that they have everything they need to feel comfortable in the work environment.

Summary

After the new employee orientation program, the new hire should feel less apprehensive about maneuvering in their new work environment. This will make the onboarding process move faster as well. You can be creative with your checklist and include giving a welcome gift to the new hire, something that they can use in their day-to-day life, such as a good pen or a small filing cabinet.

New employees should be introduced to all departments so everyone can anticipate their arrival, especially departments involved in technical procedures, such as HR, the IT department, and security. It will also help in making sure that the new hire can have a social life in the workplace.

By following this new employee orientation program checklist, you are ensuring that the new hire’s first week and the succeeding ones will happen with little to no problems at all.

Remote employees also require their own orientation program. Check this list for their onboarding checklist to know how to proceed with their orientation program.

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