HR Definitions

An induction program is a process of bringing a new employee into the organisation. This program assimilates them into the culture, accepted practices, and performance standards of the organisation.

The induction program should include information about:

• The physical work environment: eg emergency procedures, facilities, and safety issues
• The employee's rights: eg to be paid, no harassment, equal opportunity, grievance procedures etc
• The employee's responsibilities: eg times, conduct standards, responsibilities, job function, dress requirements
• The organisation: its structure, what it does, how they fit in, who is their Manager, the functions of different departments etc
• How the employee will be managed, what the performance management process will involve, and his/her role in that process

Getting the induction process right sets the scene for the remainder of the employment experience.

For example, if tardiness is tolerated in the early weeks of employment it becomes very difficult to correct because "the expectation has been set".

This is a critical phase in the employment process.

Induction programs should be implemented in a structured manner and applied uniformly across the organisation.

Best practice involves a very structured approach to the induction process.

HRworkbench recommends that:

• A computer facilitated learning process be created that gives standard information that applies to all employees
• Blended learning programs be used to develop core competence where required during the probation period
• Job Descriptions are vital and must list how the employee is to be measured
• The induction process is set up within Performance Management Online with target dates for completion of activities and for reaching performance targets
• Careful attention be paid to the quality of the employment documentation issued to the new employee

Staff Training/Staff Development