With all the demands of running a small business, new employee orientation often falls by the wayside, and new hires are left to sink or swim. But neglecting onboarding – the latest term for getting a new employee acclimated – prevents new hires from reaching productivity quickly and can make them feel unwelcome. That adds up to a frustrating experience for new hires and results in higher turnover. Employee orientation may be easier than you think – with a little creative planning, you can create an onboarding program that can:

1. Make new hires reach productivity sooner.
2. Reduce their stress.
3. Improve employee retention.
4. Save money by reducing turnover.
5. Create a positive attitude and increase job satisfaction.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Create your program

Spend some time thinking about what your onboarding program should accomplish. Think about the kind of impression you want to make on your new hires, what they need to help them reach productivity as quickly as possible and what will help them feel like they're part of the team.

I recommend: Find the basics that should be included in a new employee orientation program and download an orientation packet at HR411.com. Before creating your program, ask yourself these questions at HumanLinks.com.

Reduce first-day jitters

Make the first day less stressful on new employees by making sure they have the basics, including directions to your location, parking information and the name of the person they should ask for when they arrive.

I recommend: Take advantage of online onboarding tools, such as FutureTechConsulting.com and Orientation-Passport.com, which allows new hires to access materials and forms before they arrive for their first day. Make sure you don't fall victim to the top 10 ways to turn off a new employee, available at About.com.

Celebrate their arrival

Make new hires feel welcome. This can be as simple as taking a new employee to lunch, hanging a 'Welcome' banner on their desk or giving them a company T-shirt.

I recommend: Find a list of inexpensive ways to make new hires feel welcome in the "New Hire Orientation ToolKit."

Get them up and running fast

To get employees up to speed quickly, make sure they have the tools they need before they arrive for their first day. Have an office or cubicle set up with a computer (including necessary software programs) in place, a phone number and an email account ready to go.

I recommend: Enboard.com and SilkRoadTech.com are easy-to-use Web-based applications that help you create an onboarding program to ensure that new hires are properly equipped. RecruitMax.com offers software that can facilitate the onboarding process.

Choose an onboarding buddy

There's no doubt new hires are going to need a little hand-holding in the beginning. Assign one of your other employees to be the new person's mentor or buddy to help guide them through the onboarding phase.

I recommend: See WhoBlue.com and About.com for tips on how to assign a buddy.

Get involved

Take part in the onboarding process by touching base with new employees on a regular basis. Don't wait for new hires to seek you out with questions or problems. Be pro-active and ask them how they're doing and if there's anything they need to help them do their job better.

I recommend: Find out why not getting involved is one of the four deadliest onboarding mistakes at ere.net.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Anticipate questions your new hires may have. Give them a list of company FAQs that cover the nuts and bolts as a quick reference tool.
• •  If you have an employee handbook, don't expect a new hire to read it from cover to cover on day one. Go over key points and policies with them initially.
• •  Introduce new hires to co-workers and give them a tour of your facility.