New Hire Survival Guide: What to Include in Your New-Hire Packet

Congratulations, you’ve made your offer and the candidate has accepted! Now you’re just waiting for the individual to start his or her first day on the job.  As you’re waiting, take that time to prepare.  It’s helpful to have a packet of information for your new employee ready for him/her on the first day of work.

Read below for some ideas regarding what to include in this new-hire packet;

1. Welcome the new employee with a letter.
   This should be at the top of the new-hire packet, printed on company letterhead. Provide some brief historical information on the company, as well as its goals. In the letter, include some handy e-mails/phone extensions for departments that will be of interest in a new-hire’s first days: payroll, benefits, the cafeteria, supervisor’s contact info, etc.
2. Your company’s employee handbook.
   This should include all the policies your firm has regarding just about everything that has to do with employees: benefits, paid-time-off, social media usage, and so on. This should be included in every new-hire’s welcome packet.
3. Employment forms.
   These include W-4s, I-9s, 1099s, EEOC surveys, and any forms required by your state and your company. You’ll especially need to be diligent about making sure you get ID that verifies the individual’s right to work in the country within the first days of employment. You could be hit with some hefty fines and/or legal troubles otherwise.
4. Benefits, payroll and insurance info.
   Your new employee undoubtedly will have tons of questions regarding insurance premiums, whether or not automatic deposit of a paycheck into a checking account is available, retirement plan enrollment, etc. Put together a clear and detailed snapshot of all benefits that are available to new employees and when they’re eligible to participate (becoming fully vested in your company’s 401k match, for example).
5. Some employees will be wearing uniforms and/or using company equipment (laptops, desktop computers, mobile phones, etc.).
   The new hire can fill out an order form for sizing, as well as equipment needs, etc. Place these forms in your new-hire’s confidential employee file for safe keeping and for referral, as needed.
6. Finally, be sure to provide an emergency contact information form
   for your new employee to fill out. And then don’t just hide it some hard-to-get-to file locker. Make copies for HR, as well as for the employee’s supervisor. Accidents and illnesses definitely do happen, and being able to contact an employee’s family members quickly is just the right thing do. Update this form at least yearly.

We weren’t kidding above when we wrote that your company is waiting for a new employee sourced, vetted and placed by Insurance Relief’s™ recruiters to start his or her first day. We know where the good guys are! Contact us today and let us help you find great employees.