Finding that perfect employee can be a long journey. They won’t necessarily slot into your company right away. They might be a new graduate or even an apprentice, and maybe they need a lot of time to adjust. But before they can get started with their work, there are some essential things that you will need to do. Onboarding your new employee can involve a number of tasks. They range from checking they’re the right person to getting the work environment ready. Before they start and during their first days, make sure you’re meeting these objectives.

Background Check

You think you have found the right person to hire. But if you haven’t already double-checked, it’s time to do it now. Often, it’s just a formality to check out the person’s background. For some roles, you will need to look into specialist checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service. For example, anyone working with children or vulnerable adults should be checked. Those handling money could be expected to undergo a criminal records check too. Also, you will, of course, want to call their referees to enquire about their work history. Not every employer bothers with this stage, especially for small businesses. However, it is beneficial and can help you learn a lot.

Notify Supporting Departments

Bringing in a new employee is going to mean that various departments will need to take action. For example, they will need to be added to the payroll. They will need to be given orientation by HR, and given various accounts by IT. You need to ensure that everyone is prepared to welcome the new employee and get everything set up for them. Although a lot of the tasks they need to complete are basic, they can be time-consuming. You need to give them a heads-up about certain dates so they can ensure someone is on top of everything they need to do.

Health and Safety Briefings

Ensuring health and safety at work is vital, especially in certain industries. When your new employee arrives, one of the first tasks is going to be to make sure they follow health and safety. They should know all they need to know before they get started with their work. The information they need could need a quick five or ten-minute briefing, or it could be more involved. It depends on just how many risks there are to mitigate and what they are. At the very least, they need to know what to do if someone is injured or if there is a fire. Make sure someone is prepared to give them the training they need.

Getting Their Workspace Prepared

Of course, your new employee needs somewhere to work. If they’re filling an existing position, they’re likely to be taking over the space from a previous employee. Ensuring that it’s ready for them might involve tidying up and refreshing the area. However, for a new role, you might need to set up a new space for them. Don’t forget to consider other issues to help your new employee make themselves at home. For example, you might need to arrange parking, keys or a security pass and other affairs.

Set Up Important Orientation Meetings

You will need to ensure that your new employee is welcomed into the company. First, they are going to need to meet all the people relevant to their role. They will need to meet with superiors and other critical people to discuss their start at the company. It will be much easier for everyone to find the time to meet with them if you start to plan meetings far in advance. Everyone will be able to put a quick meeting into their schedule instead of putting it off for weeks. It might also be a good idea to ensure ways the new employee can socialise with their colleagues.

Create a Welcome Packet

When your new employee arrives for their first day, or perhaps before then, make sure they have a welcome packet. Have someone put one together that includes relevant information. It should have a job description for their role and important contacts. You can give them a map of your premises, information about parking or other transport and details of your company. They will be able to come into the company with a clear idea of their position and how everything works. First days can be scary for anyone so helping to make it easier will get them off to a good start.

Bringing in a new employee can be a complicated process, but it’s necessary. Start preparing in advance and you’ll be ready for their first day.