Employee orientation works as the first impression or first sight that the employees have of your company. Most of the time, employee satisfaction and engagement heavily depend on the employee orientation carried off by the business. For instance, a boring and formal orientation will only lead the recruits to believe that working in your company will be dull and monotonous. On the other hand, a fun-filled and communicative orientation session will leave the recruits focused on the upcoming tasks and challenges. As a result, it is quite important to let the employees know few essential subjects via the orientation materials. Not only do the orientation materials help the employees settle down, but it gives them an overall idea of how things work in your business. To know the ideal creation of employee orientation materials, keep reading!
Welcome your Employees
First and foremost- Welcome the employees. Their presence is something you should always appreciate, as it increases the level of belongingness they feel regarding the company. The individual is told they are a great asset to the team in a welcoming greeting from the president or director. Coming from the leader themself might be a great deal to most new recruits, which acts as a further step to making them feel important in the workplace. This is a nice spot to lay out the organization’s values and objectives in broad strokes; after the warm welcome breaks the ice, the employees shall be more open to any rules and policies that the company wants to discuss about.
The Employee Contract
Next, the contract letter must be enclosed in the bundle of orientation materials. For each employee being recruited, a separate folder should be created with his or her contract letter inside. A document of the signed work contract letter or employment agreements, as well as any related non-disclosure, confidentiality, non-compete, or any other contracts, should be included in the bundle. The bundle and letters must be checked prior to the orientation event, as you don’t want the materials to get mismatched withing employees.
Company’s Background Information
Provide background information about your organization to make sure that the new recruit realizes their position in the business, what it represents, and where it’s heading. Your company’s vision and mission statement along with a summary of your growth strategy can all be included in the document. Other background data, such as newsletters, company brochures, or annual reports, is also beneficial.
Including your company’s information or background will enable the employees to feel a certain involvement in the business. It is quite similar to watching movies, your employees shall live through the company’s history. How is that helpful? Well, it gives your new recruit an idea of the goals and broader vision that the business wishes to achieve; it helps them align their personal goals to that of the organization.
Policies and Rules
Different companies operate in different ways and it’s natural that certain policies and rules shall apply. Whether your company is big or small, company policies and procedures must be provided to the employees on their orientation, to ensure that they abide by the procedures. Procedures regarding quality control, security, performance monitoring, emergency procedures, workplace health, leave policy, dress codes, workplace safety, reporting process, confidentiality, complaints, social network usage, employee conduct, absenteeism, energy saving protocols, waste disposal, efficiency protocols, employee assistance programs, workplace harassment or discrimination should be included and discussed in the rulebook elaborately. In addition to these, the rulebook should also cover important subjects like insurance, referral bonuses, or discounts that the employees may gain.
Organizational Structure
An organizational hierarchy is vital for your company to function, making it essential for your workforce to be on terms with the hierarchical chart. Providing the organizational directory and chart shall help the employees understand where they fit in the whole system. Aside from the hierarchical chart, a map of the entire facility should also be provided to the employees in case of any emergencies. For instance, you don’t want your employee to get lost within the company and not be able to find their way out.
Required Documents
Certain passwords and IDs are required for your new recruits to have access to places, which must be included in the orientation materials. This ensures that your employees are aware of the surroundings and have access to business cards and other essential devices. Furthermore, keys and documents relating to the company attire might also be a good addition to the orientation materials, since all the pathways might not have password systems.
Gifts or Souvenirs
Providing a gift or a token of appreciation in the orientation materials portrays that you value their presence and are grateful for their addition to the company. Any small souvenir or even tickets to a local place may be a good idea- somewhere your employees can visit with their families. There’s no one who doesn’t like a gift!
Keep it Updated!
As time changes, so do the employee expectations. To keep the employee expectations and engagement in check, you need to regularly update this bundle of orientation materials. As per the time, few things might need to be added or eliminated- it’s wise to upgrade your facility along with the world, as your orientation shall work as a first impression on your employees.
Bottom Line
An orientation event for employees is a big deal, as new recruits tend to be awkward and unaware of most policies and procedures. As a result, including all required information in the orientation material and bundling it up with a few warm messages or an overview of the company can act as an ice breaker. Not only will it make the employees feel like they belong, but it will ensure they know all the essential things that are needed. Share this article with your colleagues at work and start arranging the orientation materials for your new recruits!