How to Get Induction Right For Businesses

In any business, getting your induction process right is absolutely crucial. It doesn’t matter if you are welcoming a new full-time employee, a short-term contractor, or a casual worker; how you introduce them to your workplace can make a huge difference to their success, safety, and even how long they stick around for.

Yet, many businesses still treat induction like it’s a box-ticking exercise, offering little more than a brief site tour and a pile of paperwork for them to sign.

This is never going to be enough to set new team members up for success. That’s why a thorough induction process should be conducted to help them feel comfortable, understand what is expected of them, and quickly make a contribution to the organisation.

In this post, we’ll highlight what your business can do to get its induction process right. If you want your new team members to hit the ground running, feel a part of the team, and add value from day one, we'll show you how to make this happen.

Induction Checklists

Before we get into the guts of this post, it's worth taking a moment to talk about induction checklists.

Having one at your disposal is important because it ensures that nothing essential is overlooked. It also saves time, makes it easier to monitor where an employee is in the induction process, and improves your organization’s consistency.

There are several available. But you can learn more about induction checklists with Altora here.

Why Proper Induction Matters

First impressions count, and a good induction can help to create this by setting the tone for the whole working relationship.

When delivered effectively, a good induction:

• Makes new employees feel valued and integrated.
• Sets clear expectations from the outset.
• Reduces errors and miscommunications.
• Enhances workplace safety and ensures compliance.
• Improves employee engagement and reduces employee turnover.

Conversely, a poor induction experience can leave employees feeling disconnected, lost, unsupported, and ready to jump ship the second a better opportunity pops up.

The Must-Haves of a Good Induction

In order for an induction program to be successful, it should cover several areas. They include the following:

1. Overview of the Company

While they might have an inkling -  which is why they chose to join your company in the first place - new employees want to know exactly what they are getting themselves into.

For this reason, it is worth providing them with an overview of the organisation’s mission, values, and culture.

By showcasing the broader purpose and workings of the business, it will help new employees to better understand the role they are playing within it.

2. Role Expectations

It is always good to set expectations for new employees early, which is why you should take the time to clarify the specific responsibilities of their role and who they report to.

Additionally, it is worth outlining what success you are looking for them to achieve. This is very important because by providing them with clear communication, it helps to prevent confusion and potential misunderstandings.

3. Policies and Procedures

Nobody expects new staff to memorise every rule on day one. However, you do need to cover the important things such as workplace health and safety, code of conduct, bullying and harassment policies, and emergency procedures.

By doing this, you help to set expectations of how you expect employees to behave and how seriously your workplace deals with any unsavoury issues.

4. Introductions to Key People

It is hard being the new guy at work, especially if it’s a large company or a place where most people have worked there for a significant period of time.

For this reason, you should introduce new employees to their managers, teammates, and relevant support staff as early as you can.

Building relationships early is an important way to make them feel part of the organisation.

5. Site Tour

To help them quickly acclimatise to their surroundings, you’ll want to provide the new employee with a comprehensive tour of the workplace.

Ideally, this should be completed on the first day and highlight essential areas such as exits, amenities, parking, kitchens and first-aid facilities.

6. Training and Development

Most new employees require on-the-job training, whether that be for computer systems, machinery or any other part of their responsibilities.

Letting them know early what training they'll receive and when it will take place demonstrates that you are invested in their growth and that you are giving them all the tools they need to be successful in their role.

Common Induction Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Even with the best of intentions, mistakes can be made during an induction process that can undermine the process.

Therefore, while you should include the above must-haves in your induction program, you will also need to be mindful to avoid these common pitfalls:

1. Overloading Them with Information

Presenting too much information at once can overwhelm new employees. That’s why you should aim to spread the learning over several weeks to ensure they absorb it better.

2. Making It Too Generic

Different positions require different information and training, so you should make sure you tailor your induction to the role.

A warehouse worker and a senior executive need very different onboarding experiences, so implementing a one-size-fits-all induction approach just won’t work.

3. Rushing It

It is important not to treat induction like a one-day event. Proper onboarding can (and should) happen over weeks or even months as this gives people ample time to settle in and ask questions.

4. Forgetting About Follow-Up

For all new employees, it is vital to check in with them on a regular basis during their first few months with your company. Doing this will help address any issues they are experiencing and provide them with the ongoing support they might need.