Part 1
Before the first day
- Send the signed offer letter and a welcome note with the joining date, time, and who to ask for.
- Collect documents early: ID proof, address proof, education and experience certificates, bank details, and tax or social-security identifiers.
- Create the employee record, assign a department, manager, and role, and set up their login.
- Prepare equipment, accounts, and access (email, tools, building access).
Part 2
Day one
- Welcome the new joiner and introduce them to their manager and team.
- Walk through company policies: leave, attendance, working hours, code of conduct, and the grievance process.
- Explain how payroll works - pay date, salary structure, and where to find payslips.
- Share the 30-60-90 day expectations so goals are clear from the start.
Part 3
First 30 days
- Hold a weekly one-to-one with the manager for the first month.
- Assign a buddy who can answer the small questions people hesitate to ask.
- Complete mandatory training such as workplace safety, data protection, and prevention of sexual harassment.
- Collect feedback from the new hire on the onboarding experience itself.
Part 4
Common mistakes to avoid
Most onboarding problems come from missing information, not missing goodwill: documents chased after the joining date, a manager who did not know someone was starting, or a payslip that surprises the employee in month one. A shared checklist with an owner for every item prevents all three.