New Employee Orientation

The process in which new hires are introduced to their jobs and work environments

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What is New Employee Orientation?

New employee orientation is an assimilation process in which new recruits are introduced to their jobs and work environment. Through orientation, new employees become acclimatized to the company, their department, fellow workers, and job requirements.

New Employee Orientation - Image of workers welcoming a new female co-worker

An effective orientation program provides numerous benefits, not just for the employee but also to the company as a whole. Essentially, new employee orientation assures business owners that new hires transition smoothly into their roles.

Elements of New Employee Orientation

1. Purpose

In some companies, the orientation aspect of training is taken lightly. However, making an employee feel comfortable and secure is crucial to retention and happiness on the job. If an employee starts a position feeling certainty about his surroundings and role, then he is more likely to do good work and want to stay with the company.

2. Philosophy

An integral component of employee orientation is learning the company’s philosophy. The best way to thrive in a continually evolving corporate world is to align the company’s goals and values with those of its employees. By taking into account various techniques and approaches that employees use, the owner can make better decisions for the overall good of the company.

During orientation, a new employee can establish whether the company is family-friendly or individual-oriented. Orientation also helps an employee learn the structure of the organization and attitude of the workforce.

3. People integration

Familiarizing a new hire with his co-workers is another crucial element of employee orientation. For this reason, many companies often train new employees in groups. This enables new recruits to start bonding and forming meaningful relationships with fellow employees right away.

Getting to know other employees helps avoid feelings of isolation, which can make a new worker less productive. In some instances, the supervisor may take new recruits to meet the crew they’ll be working with. For example, if the new employee is part of the marketing team, the supervisor may take the entire group out for lunch.

Importance of New Employee Orientation

1. Helps to retain top talent

The competition for talent in the corporate world is intense. Every company wants to hire and retain quality talent.

In the past, a company owner only needed to offer a high salary to entice the top talent. However, things have changed considerably in that respect over the years. As companies continue to compete for the top employees, they are often winning them by offering more and better perks.

In many instances, it’s the intangible aspects of a job that employees value the most. Therefore, it’s key for companies to foster a strong, friendly company culture and to maintain an impeccable employee orientation program. Fostering opportunities to build a strong relationship with management is also helpful. With a solid orientation program, a company’s executives can lay a strong foundation that encourages top talent to stick around.

2. Earns trust

The first day can be daunting for a new employee. The individual often does not know what he’s supposed to do, where to go, who to consult, or how to perform specific tasks.

A solid orientation program helps new employees learn more about their roles and also enlightens them on organizational practices. A new employee will feel more valued if, for example, he’s taken to meet the executive leadership team.

3. Reduces turnover

One common phrase among employees who quit is that they don’t usually quit the job but the company. Without orientation, a new employee frequently struggles to find his place among co-workers. The individual may also find it challenging to interact with management, especially if they’re not sure of how to deliver on expectations.

When an employee quits, the company experiences a significant loss. It must go through the recruitment process all over again. Owners need to advertise the position, short-list candidates, and conduct interviews, all of which is a very time-consuming process. Frequent employee turnover can often be avoided by formulating a solid orientation program that helps new hires ease into their roles.

Ways to Improve New Employee Orientation

To ensure that a company is making the most of its orientation program, there are a couple of points it should consider. For starters, the supervisor should come up with a proper outline of all the aspects to be covered during the orientation process. The first part of an orientation program should be devoted to providing information regarding company policies, compensation, benefits, rights, and employee responsibilities.

The second part should be more specifically focused on the new employee’s position. The supervisor should explain the company’s expectations for the position, as well as policies and procedures pertaining to the role.

Every new recruit, regardless of rank within the company, needs to be taken through an orientation program. Here are a few guidelines to improve the orientation process:

1. Remember to include introductions during the orientation

It’s crucial for the new hires to feel comfortable and acquainted with their colleagues. Introductions make it easy to connect with those they’ll be working with.

2. Avoid overloading new hires with huge loads of information

To prevent information overload, the orientation program should be stretched over several days. This enables new employees to process and retain the information better.

3. Always start off the orientation program with the most important details

New hires are more attentive on their first day, making this the best time to cover crucial issues such as company procedures.

Summary

In summary, new employee orientation is a program conducted by the HR department to train and enlighten new employees about their roles and company policies. Orientation is important, as it helps a new hire feel valued. It also reduces employee turnover and provides an avenue for forming meaningful relationships.

Additional Resources

Thank you for reading CFI’s guide to new employee orientation. CFI offers the Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA)™ certification program for those looking to take their careers to the next level. To keep learning and advancing your career, the following resources will be helpful:

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