HR For Small Business For Dummies, Australian Edition

Chapter 8

Making a Good Impression: Orientation Programs

In This Chapter

Establishing expectations from the start with the orientation program

Documenting the rules of engagement in a staff handbook

Using employment policies to guide working lives and protect your intellectual property

You never get a second chance to make a first impression

Anonymous

M aking a good impression isn’t just a task for the new employee, but should also be your aim when introducing a person into your business. You have invested time and money in recruiting this person and you want to get a good return on that investment. Besides, getting on well with the people you work with is good enough reason in itself to make the effort at the start.

In this chapter, I explain how you can use a structured orientation program to make a good impression on new employees, establish the expectations for performance and provide the best opportunity to commence work with confidence in the future. Orientation commences before new staff begin employment so I explain the work that should be completed early, such as creating a package of information about the business and ensuring equipment and other work materials are ready ...