Planning a New Employee Orientation

If you've been charged with coordinating employee orientation for your company or department, here's a basic outline to get you started.

First, Break the Ice

Remember - all your attendees are either new to the company, your location, or the department (or all three!) and they are likely feeling a bit apprehensive about starting. Therefore, an icebreaker is necessary to put everyone at ease and allow individuals to mingle and get to know each other. Keep your icebreaker simple and interactive. For appropriate ideas, try an online search for "business meeting icebreakers" or "corporate icebreaker ideas." Either should yield good suggestions for your business meeting, without coming across as hokey or contrived.

Next, Address Ground Rules

This would be the time to instruct your employees on codes of conduct, general company policy (for example, where smoking is allowed, badges visible at all times, the tardy policy, time clocks, etc.), plus any "zero tolerance" policies (sexual harassment, falsification of documents), etc. Get these important updates and information addressed and out of the way immediately.

A Brief History

Every new employee orientation should include a brief history of the company. Knowing the company's roots allows new employees to understand the company's mission, as well as instilling pride in their place of employment. This would be the time to explain the company's vision, mission and purpose, as well as to showcase any "bill of rights" kinds of practices.

Procedures and How To

This would be the part of the orientation where new employees are taught some logistical details. Some examples would include:

- navigating the facilities - perhaps review a map, show where fire exits and bathrooms are located, include information about employee break rooms, cafeterias, nearby lunch spots, designated smoking areas, parking, fire extinguishers, etc.

- parking - rules, regulations and locations, as well as any restrictions on who can park where and where the parking tag or permit should be displayed

- time and attendance - how employee hours are tracked, how to use the tracking system, how often payroll checks are distributed and how are they distributed (interoffice, snail mail, direct deposit, etc.), what happens if payday falls on a scheduled holiday, etc.

- appearance - employee dress code details and specifics.

Benefits

Here you would review health and dental plans, explain different choices related to coverage, and tell employees how to complete and submit their forms and by what deadline. Also included in this section would be additional and optional services such as 401K plans, retirement benefits, accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D), vacation and holiday pay, and a schedule of planned holidays. Review the policy for requesting time off from work, explain the difference between scheduled and unscheduled absences, unpaid time off, sick pay, etc.

Corporate Culture

Remember to share any company traditions or regular events (annual picnic, awards banquet, casual Fridays, competitions, etc.) and allow time for Q&A on any remaining questions they may have.

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