The First Day Employee Checklist

The first day at a new job is a little bit like the first day of school. Feelings of loneliness, confusion, and an overwhelming sense of anxiety are common for new hires on Day 1 and, unfortunately, sometimes busy supervisors can contribute to these feelings.

Nonprofit managers must do everything in their power to be available when a new employee starts work. While all first day hires need help acclimating to their new environment, it is even more imperative to be present when the worker is new to the job market or is working in the nonprofit sector for the first time.

In "The Big Book of HR," authors Barbara Mitchell and Cornelia Gamlem created a checklist that managers should follow on Day 1 of any new employee. The checklist offers some items that might seem like no-brainers, yet it's exactly these items that are critical to ensuring that Day 1 is successful for all parties.

• Does security know the new hire is coming?
• Does the employee know where and when to report on Day 1?
• Is the work area ready: computer and phone – hooked up and ready to go? Are there supplies, welcoming items?
• Does staff know when the new hire is arriving?
• Is there a plan for the first day and beyond?
• Does the manager’s schedule include time for the new hire?
• Does the new hire have a copy of his/her job description?
• Does the new hire have a copy of the organization’s strategic plan and mission statement?
• Does the new hire know what to do in case of emergency?