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When a new person starts at a business, it’s a common practice to carry out an employee induction to help them settle into their new role. Despite the many benefits this offers for both new hires and the organisation itself, not all companies have a formal induction process in place. So, what is an induction, and why is it important?
In this guide for employers, we’ll explore what an employee induction should include to make sure your new hire gets the most out of the experience. We’ve also put together an employee induction checklist to help you plan everything out.
What is an induction?
An employee induction is a process that’s put in place to help a new member of staff to settle into their job. As well as explaining their key roles and responsibilities, it also gives them an opportunity to get to know their colleagues and familiarise themselves with the overall company culture.
For smaller businesses, the process could be fairly short, whereas others may require a more comprehensive induction plan for new employees. Depending on the structure of your organisation, the induction might be overseen by a department manager, team leader, or peer, or a combination of the three. As well as one-to-one feedback, on-the-job mentoring and mandatory training programmes, the learning process also consists of informal communication and interactions within the workplace.
The benefits of an effective induction plan for new employees
An employee induction helps to ensure that every new member of the team feels welcomed and ready to get stuck into their role. However, it also provides a variety of important benefits for your business, so it’s important to ensure a strategic approach.
Saves time and resources for onboarding
A well-structured induction plan for new employees can significantly cut down the time spent on onboarding. With a clear path laid out, new hires can quickly learn the ropes with minimal supervision from managers, freeing up your team to focus on bigger tasks.
You can save even more time and avoid common issues by automating HR processes like document sign-offs or scheduling meetings to introduce new employees to key members of the team. Investing in HR automation also reduces administrative costs, making onboarding efficient and hassle free.
Gets new employees up to speed quickly
Your induction should ensure that your new hire is able to hit the ground running. With everything clearly mapped out from day one, they know who to talk to, where to find resources, and what’s expected of them. This leads to quicker productivity, which benefits your business directly.
For the employee, a great induction experience provides a smoother transition into their role, which means less stress and allows them to feel like part of the team. The right employee onboarding plan helps to streamline this process, allowing your new starters to settle in quickly.
Creates a positive initial experience
First impressions matter, and an effective induction plan for new employees sets a welcoming tone that boosts morale from day one. It helps new hires to feel valued, supported and more confident as they begin their journey with you.
When employees feel like they’ve had a great start, they’re more likely to engage with the team and perform at their best. This positive start lays the foundation for a great employee experience, giving your business a reputation as a great place to work.
Allows you to showcase your company
An induction is your chance to show off what makes your business stand out. You’re not just teaching someone their new role; you’re introducing them to your values, culture and vision. It’s a chance to get them excited about the company and align them with your goals.
The induction process also helps to ensure that new hires understand and embrace your company culture from the beginning. This goes a long way towards creating a unified team that works toward shared success, encouraging a positive working environment that will support productivity in the long run.
Supports the employee lifecycle
A strong employee induction is the foundation for a long and successful journey with your company. By giving new hires the tools they need to thrive from day one, you’re setting them up for long-term growth within the organisation.
From onboarding to ongoing development, the induction process plays a key role in the employee lifecycle, helping you retain talent, foster internal promotions, and build a loyal workforce that evolves with your business.
Helps to reduce turnover rates
Employee turnover is expensive, and investing in retention strategies now can help you to save money in the long run. A well-thought-out induction can reduce turnover by providing new hires with the support and guidance they need to feel secure in their new role.
Employees who have a great start are less likely to leave, meaning you can reduce your recruitment and training costs. Lowering your staff turnover rates not only saves money but also builds a more stable and motivated team that sticks around for longer.
What should an employee induction include?
When designing an induction, it’s important to cover all the practical elements that ensure a smooth transition into the company. The process should provide new hires with a clear understanding of their role, familiarise them with their team and workplace, and introduce them to essential company policies.
So, what should an employee induction include? Here's a breakdown of key components to include when welcoming new employees to your workplace.
1. Meet the team
One of the first steps in an employee induction is introducing the new hire to their immediate team and any other colleagues they’ll be working closely with. This helps them to start building relationships and creates a support network from day one. Familiarising them with key people in the company means that they’ll know exactly who to go to for assistance or advice, and adds more meaningful context to their role.
2. Workplace tour
Make sure to give your new employee a tour of the workspace so they can get their bearings. Knowing where everything is, from the toilets and breakroom to important departments like HR and IT, will make them feel more comfortable. You should also show them safety exits and, where relevant depending on their role, any workplace hazards they may encounter. The workplace tour is a simple step that helps employees to feel more at home in their new surroundings and promotes autonomy in the workplace from day one.
3. Essential policies and procedures
Covering key policies is crucial in any induction. This includes outlining health and safety guidelines and providing essential documents that they need to review. Give them a copy of your employee handbook, and make sure they sign their employment contract. Take this opportunity to clarify any questions they may have about how things operate within your organisation; the clearer your policies from the start, the fewer issues you’ll face down the line.
4. Introduction to their role
It’s important that your new hire knows exactly what they’ll be doing. Go through their job description and discuss their key responsibilities and what’s expected of them. This not only provides clarity but also allows them to ask any questions they may have about the role. An induction plan for new employees should set them up for success by giving them a solid understanding of what their day-to-day tasks will involve so they can jump straight in.
5. Let them get started
Once they’ve met everyone, toured the workplace and reviewed the necessary paperwork, it’s time to let your new employee dive into their new role. Make sure they have the tools and resources they need to get started, and that they know who to reach out to if they run into any challenges. By guiding them through the first few days and making sure they feel supported, you can help them to feel more comfortable and confident, so they can start contributing quickly.
Employee induction checklist
Having a detailed employee induction plan in place helps you to stay organised and ensures that you don’t overlook any important details, creating a smooth onboarding experience. To make sure the process is as efficient as possible, we’ve put together an employee induction checklist outlining the essential steps you’ll need to follow before, during and after the new employee’s start date.
Before start date
In the days leading up to a new hire’s start date, you need to make sure you’ve got everything prepared to minimise disruptions and delays once they arrive.
Essential steps include:
- Complete new employee forms (payroll, bank deposit details, etc.)
- Verify DBS checks (if applicable)
- Provide company ID or access card
- Prepare their employment contract
- Share a copy of your employee handbook
- Ensure that their IT setup is ready (email, software access, etc.)
When they start
On their first day, you’ll need to dive straight into the practicalities. Your induction should help them to understand the environment they’ll be working in, and their roles and responsibilities.
Make sure to:
- Review health and safety procedures
- Identify potential hazards in the workplace
- Go over compliance and regulatory requirements
- Share evacuation routes and emergency contacts
- Provide a tour of the workspace
During their first week
While there are lots of important details to share, be careful not to overwhelm your new hires. Spread out the information throughout their first week and beyond, building on the initial induction to make sure they know everything they need for their role without creating unnecessary stress.
Important details include:
- Explain annual leave policies and how to request time off
- Go over employee benefits packages, such as healthcare or retirement plans
- Discuss HR policies, including code of conduct and equal opportunities
- Introduce performance management processes and feedback systems
- Set up introductory meetings with team members and relevant departments
Manage your employee induction process with PeopleHR
A well-structured induction makes sure that new hires feel welcomed, informed and productive from day one. By following an organised induction plan for new employees, you can save time, reduce staff turnover and foster a positive workplace culture.
A great way to simplify your inductions and create a smoother, more efficient onboarding process is to use applicant tracking software. As well as automating tasks and ensuring consistency, you can monitor the progress of new hires through essential onboarding tasks like completing mandatory training modules and entering employee information into the payroll system.
Ready to start ticking off your employee induction checklist? Explore our demo to see how PeopleHR’s applicant tracking software can help, or get in touch to learn more about how we can support your wider HR needs.
