INDUCTION / ORIENTATION PROGRAMMES

What You Should? What You Should Not Be Doing?

Orientation or Induction is the first important step in the process of Human Resource Management. It involves familiarization of the newly appointed employees to the work environment of the organisation as well as to the fellow employees. Induction is a socializing process by which the organisation seeks to make an individual its agent for the achievement of its objectives. The new employees should be oriented to the organisation and to its policies, rules and regulations.

Does Induction & Orientation mean the same?

Induction means introduction of the company as in the overall preview of company.

Orientation includes introducing new employees to the other employees of the organisation making them more familiar with everyone so that they get the idea of the kind of company they will be working for and generating a level of comfort within the organisation.

What is the need for an HR in this communication?

The HR is involved in the formulation of the policy and guidelines for the company. So the interaction about the culture of the company can be better told by HR. Induction is like an opportunity for the new employee and the HR as well. The new joinee is in more receptive state during the induction, and they will carry the information all along their working tenure. It becomes hard for an employee to know who are the people they can get in touch with hence it’s imperative that HR form a part of the induction program not only as a presenter but as a convener!

As a new hire / new employee what are their expectations out of this session?

The expectations can be divided into 3P’s Person, Premises, and Process.

• PERSON: The concerned persons, The Reporting Manager, who’s who of the company.
• PREMISES: Canteen, Conference room, work station etc.
• PROCESS: Leaves, Appraisal, Training, compensation, other benefits, other polices, compensations, employee discounts, employee engagement practices

What are the new trends (apart from PPT, Word docs, Manuals) in this communication?

• Something handy to read out for the new employees can be given. 
• Have a good brochure designed.
• Place important information on the desktop wallpapers.
• create a ready to use flash presentation that is self readable.

What kind of an experience are they expecting to go through during this induction?

• The new hires should find it as involving as possible. Have a walkabout arranged, showing the facilities, cabins, exits, cafeteria, library, may be also introducing them to people along the way.
• They should be made to believe that they have made the right decision by choosing your organization.
• They should feel that they are aware of the culture and hence can easily blend in.
• As the employee is new to that specific environment, so he/she must be looking for someone who can clarify the doubts. You can may be add another badge to their I-card which may read "I am new, so were you! So please help me" or "I am willing to learn, Are you willing to teach" or "I have joined here to help our organization grow" or " I am the newest member of the family". You can take the badge from them after 1 month.
• The new employees should be introduced to their Reporting Managers.

How / What is the best way of communicating to the new hires?

• By way of a flash presentation.
• By face to face program, which is always great. Make it more like a facilitated training program with a lot of activities like energizers, introduction sessions etc!
• HR should make the new employees feel as he / she is a part of the organization and is always welcomed for any support.
• Have a corporate video made and presented, that contains the job that you do, welcome note from the board and the heads, testimonials by employees. This has a really good impact since many times the management may not be available!

Who is the best person to communicate?

The HR Assistant Manager, HR Manager, HR executive! However make sure that if there is a group or even a single person induction, then the head honcho viz President, CEO, CFO get to meet the new employees!


When designing an Induction / Orientation Program, you should ask what the employee needs to know and what the organisation needs them to know in the first 24 hours, the first week, the first month and the first year.