New hire best practice a third of companies miss

So you have high hopes for your newest hire in Finance. Better make sure you’re not hamstringing that person from the start.

It’s new a finance staffer’s first day with you. No doubt you want to make sure you’re ready for that person’s arrival:

• Phone extension? Check.
• PC? Check.
• New-hire paperwork? Check.
• Orientation? Well …

You’re far from alone. A third of companies don’t offer new hires a formal orientation program. That’s according to a recent survey by Robert Half International.

Could be a costly omission. Orientation not only sets that individual up for success, but it also shows the employee your company is excited about having him or her on board, which could help with retention.

It doesn’t need to be an elaborate undertaking, but offering a little structured guidance in those first few days is well worth the effort.

To do it without draining a lot of time or resources:

1. Make a list of every department this person will interact with. It’s easy with a new Payroll person: Every department goes on the list. But if you have a new A/P clerk on board, you may have to think a little longer. You want to include all departments this person might need both for personal reasons (HR or Benefits) and work-related ones.
2. Schedule some face time. For groups this individual will have a lot of contact with, like Purchasing for A/P, see if managers will spend 20 minutes talking with your new hire about the department and introducing him or her around. This person will make a bigger impression when Joe in Purchasing was introduced to her by his own boss.
3. Don’t forget the little things. Few would fail to mention casual Fridays. But if you bring in lunch for everyone during the month-end close, let ’em know that right away too.  Ask your existing staffers which little things they’d wished someone would have told them on their first day and be sure to include those.