This ultimate employee onboarding checklist will help you keep your onboarding process organized and on schedule. Use it to stay focused and ensure that you don’t overlook important tasks. We also included thoughtful details to delight your new employees! You may also want to checkout our off-board an employee checklist.
If your company has a human resources department, submit a job requisition document for approval before making a hiring decision. The HR team may also require a completed background check and drug test before a new employee can be officially hired. Close the open position and don’t forget to remove any job postings that are still live.
Gather all of the documents the new hire has to fill out on their first day, such as tax documents, various contracts or agreements, payroll information and other new employee forms. Print off the employee handbook and provide information about the benefits package for your new employee to review. Make sure to include a point of contact in case the new hire has questions about their benefits or pay. It can also be helpful to print off the job description as a reminder of the company’s expectations for the role.
Request all devices and equipment several days in advance to ensure everything is ready to go on the new hire’s first day. Everything from the employee’s computer and phone to their keyboard and mouse should be hooked up and ready to use from the moment they arrive.
Contact your IT team, facilities manager and accounting department to make sure the employee is set up in all relevant systems and has all of the required assets to enter the building. Make sure their company email is set up and gather their login credentials for various tools and platforms so they won’t have any trouble accessing the applications and software they need to do their job.
Your goal on the new hire’s first day is to make the new employee feel at ease with a welcoming and engaging manner. The first day is a crucial day for truly beginning to immerse a new employee in your company culture.
Your continuing goal during the first week is helping the new employee to assimilate into your company culture and become productive as soon as possible.
Make sure your new employee has a clean desk and chair, and any other items they need at their workstation. If possible, gather company branded swag, office supplies or a simple gift like a mug or small plant for their desk to create a welcome kit for their workspace.
Set aside time during the employee’s first day for a new hire orientation. Ideally, this will not only give the employee time to sign paperwork, but also give them the chance to learn about the company culture, review the organizational chart and learn how various departments interact.
Prior to your new hire’s first day, send them an email to welcome them to the company and provide them with important details about what they can expect when they arrive (e.g., start date reminder, dress code, first day schedule, parking information).
Give your new employee a tour of the workplace and introduce them to key personnel within each department. Provide them with a map of the building so they’ll feel comfortable finding their way around. Make sure to point out where bathrooms, break rooms and other common areas are.
Introduce your new hire to a peer within their department who can act as a mentor during their first few weeks on the job. This person will be available for questions, introduce the employee to others within the department and can even help train them on certain aspects of the role. Having a mentor is crucial to the new hire’s success because it can prevent them from feeling alone as they navigate their new role in an unfamiliar environment
Let your current employees know what the new hire will be doing and share a few interesting facts to help break the ice. For example, you can share the employees’ hobbies, interests and a brief professional background. This announcement should encourage other team members to say hello and extend a personal welcome when they see the new hire around the office.
Invite the new hire out to lunch with their team on the first day to help them start building personal connections, acclimate to the company and feel welcomed and valued from day one.
Arrange for a time to meet with the new employee, after their first week or two, to learn how they’re adjusting and whether they have any input about the onboarding plan. This conversation could expose areas of opportunity within your onboarding process or additional items you can add to the new employee onboarding checklist.
Schedule time to touch base with the new hire at regular intervals, including after their first month, second month and first quarter. These meetings should offer the employee an opportunity to share concerns or feedback about their training and discuss how well they’re adapting to the role.