Soft Skills

The right orientation

Sushil Tayal explains why the employee orientation programme is so critical for an organisation and how it impacts long-term workforce loyalty.

Employee orientation programme is designed to welcome new employees and to align them with the culture, vision and policies of the company. The most important principle to convey during an orientation is that the organisation is committed to continuous improvement and continual learning. That way, new employees become comfortable with asking questions to obtain the information they need to learn, solve problems and make decisions. A well thought-out orientation process takes energy, time and commitment; however, it pays off in the long-term for the individual employee, the department, and the organisation.

First impression

The employee forms his first impression of the company through the quality of the orientation programme. It provides a “feel-good” factor to the employee, which he usually carries with him for a long time afterwards. The rationales behind employee orientation programmes are that it provides an opportunity to the new employee to obtain specific information about the following topics:

• To acquaint the new employee with the organisation’s mission, vision and corporate structure
• To acquaint new joinees with the organisation’s “corporate culture”
• To familiarise them with important policies and procedures of the organisation
• To clarify certain employee rights and corresponding responsibilities
• To provide information about benefits available to employees, and
• To give an opportunity to take advantage of those benefits

Every organisation should have a comprehensive employee orientation programme. This programme is usually conducted for three whole days and thereafter it becomes a continuous learning process. It can consist of the following modules:

• Company history
• Employee information
• Location of facilities
• Market positioning and project domains
• Client portfolio
• Performance appraisal system
• Training
• Quality policy
• Hours of work and overtime
• Information services division
• Leave management system
• Conduct and discipline
• Corporate etiquette
• Salary and benefits
• Career development and counselling

What to expect

An employee who has undergone the orientation programme will be well aware of the company’s background, its strengths and its unique positioning in the marketplace. This prepares them for interactions with the outside world and internal colleagues in case of any queries. The new recruits will be very clear from the day one as to what is expected out of them, where they are positioned in the organisation and how their contribution would make a difference to the company’s performance.

Such employees will not be confused about their roles and responsibilities, goals and objectives and will contribute to the company’s growth from the day one.

A good start

The first few days an employee spends at a new job is very significant. How they are treated by their immediate superiors and team members can help them make the transition to their new work and organisation, or can cause them unnecessary anxiety. Many employees report feeling confused and lost during their first weeks at work, not knowing where to go for information or help. Managers and departments can dramatically impact a new employee’s learning, motivation, productivity, satisfaction and retention with a good orientation programme.

Orientation to an organisation, a department and a specific position is an on-going process. It’s not going to happen in a day or a week, although that’s sometimes what the employers expect. Managers and other staff members are responsible for helping employees learn the history and traditions, values and philosophy, vision and mission of the organisation. In addition, policies, procedures, work rules, goals and objectives must be communicated and taught. Employees want to learn all this also, in addition to more specific things about their position. Most employees want to do a good job, but they need help learning how to do a good job.

Employee orientation programme really pays towards their long-term loyalty to the company. This becomes extremely crucial in these days of high attrition and the temptation to move jobs for more challenging work or better salaries.

Sushil Tayal is HR Director, LogicaCMG