On the Employee's First Day

When the employee arrives on the first day of work, some of the first things to do are:

• Show the employee where his or her work area will be.
• Show the employee where he or she can store personal effects safely, if not at a desk.
• Give the employee a tour of your workplace, pointing out the restrooms, break room, supply room or area, and first aid kit.
• Introduce the employee to any other employees or workers.

Work Smart If you have a lot of work to do yourself and you won't be able to spend a great deal of time with the employee, you might want to designate a trustworthy employee to be the new employee's "buddy" in case the employee has questions.

At some point in the first few hours that the employee is at work, you should:

• Process any employment forms.
• Give the employee the information that you have gathered and explain what each piece of material is.
• Tell the employee that you are available for questions after the employee has reviewed the material.
• Arrange for lunch (if you like) with the employee and any other coworkers.