The advice from recruiters is don''t neglect new starters on their first day; they may not return for another, as Felicity Landon finds out
Could someone tell me where the toilet is? Please can I have a desk? Where is the fire exit? New employees need to feel comfortable and part of the team as they adjust to their new workplace, but all too often that just isn't the case.
According to Lesley Kaye, Cameron Maritime Resources human resources consultant:"There are still too many instances where due to the pressures of work and travel commitments the new employee can find himself without the support he needs.
There are still cases of throwing the employee straight 'in at the deep end'- 'here's your desk,so I'll leave you to get on with it' and expecting them to be delivering from day one." Research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development showed that 13% of leavers had less than six months' service, says Ms Kaye. That impacts on productivity, company reputation, recruitment time and costs, and staff morale.
"As an employer you want to ensure maximum return on your investment, which means peak performance from your new employee.The only way to do that is for them to be fully and effectively integrated into the organisation." She suggests providing a "welcome pack" of information about the company, people, values and so on,and joining instructions to indicate where,when and to whom the individual should report on their first day.
"Make sure that all the facilities needed by the employee are in place ready for their first day; desk, chair, company car, computer, etc. As basic as this may seem, it is very unwelcoming to find yourself in transit for the first few days. It sends a clear message of your unimportance.
"I remember very clearly the accountant who came to me at lunchtime on his first day and said that his colleagues hadn't even told him where the toilets were." The first day is one of readjustment into a completely new place, says Ms Kaye. An initial induction should reduce stress and help individuals to integrate as quickly as possible.
Basics should include site orientation, a meeting with the individual's manager, introductions to colleagues, and health and safety issues such as emergency exits and evacuation procedures.
And during the first few weeks, a number of elements should not be forgotten - introductions to key people, both internally and externally, at minimum the setting of an agreed plan of activities for the first few weeks, and regular review and discussion."
