�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������EmployeeOrientation:KeepingNewEmployeesonBoard�ByJudithBrown,Ph.D.�Orientingemployeestotheirworkplacesandtheirjobsisoneofthemostneglectedfunctionsinmanyorganizations.Anemployeehandbookandpilesofpaperworkarenotsufficientanymorewhenitcomestowelcominganewemployeetoyourorganization.Themostfrequentcomplaintsaboutnewemployeeorientationarethatitisoverwhelming,boring,orthatthenewemployeeislefttosinkorswim.Theresultisoftenaconfusednewemployeewhoisnotproductiveandismorelikelytoleavetheorganizationwithinayear.Withanongoinglaborcrunch,developinganeffectiveemployeeorientationexperiencecontinuestobecrucial.Itiscriticalthatnewhireprogramsarecarefullyplannedtoeducatetheemployeeaboutthevalues,historyandwhoiswhointheorganization.Awellthoughtoutorientationprogram,whetheritlastsonedayorsixmonths,willhelpnotonlyinretentionofemployees,butalsoinproductivity.Organizationsthathavegoodorientationprogramsgetnewpeopleuptospeedfaster,havebetteralignmentbetweenwhattheemployeesdoandwhattheorganizationneedsthemtodo,andhavelowerturnoverrates.PurposesofOrientationEmployershavetorealizethatorientationisn'tjustanicegestureputonbytheorganization.Itservesasanimportantelementoftherecruitmentandretentionprocess.Somekeypurposesare:•ToReduceStartupCosts:Properorientationcanhelptheemployeeget"uptospeed"muchmorequickly,therebyreducingthecostsassociatedwithlearningthejob.•ToReduceAnxiety:Anyemployee,whenputintoanew,strangesituation,willexperienceanxietythatcanimpedehisorherabilitytolearntodothejob.Properorientationhelpstoreduceanxietythatresultsfromenteringintoanunknownsituation,andhelpsprovideguidelinesforbehaviorandconduct,sotheemployeedoesn'thavetoexperiencethestressofguessing.•ToReduceEmployeeTurnover:Employeeturnoverincreasesasemployeesfeeltheyarenotvalued,orareputinpositionswheretheycan'tpossiblydotheirjobs.Orientationshowsthattheorganizationvaluestheemployee,andhelpsprovidethetoolsnecessaryforsucceedinginthejob.•ToSaveTimefortheSupervisor:Simplyput,thebettertheinitialorientation,thelesslikelysupervisorsandco-workerswillhavetospendtimeteachingtheemployee.�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������•ToDevelopRealisticJobExpectations,PositiveAttitudesandJobSatisfaction:Itisimportantthatemployeeslearnassoonaspossiblewhatisexpectedofthem,andwhattoexpectfromothers,inadditiontolearningaboutthevaluesandattitudesoftheorganization.Whilepeoplecanlearnfromexperience,theywillmakemanymistakesthatareunnecessaryandpotentiallydamaging.Themainreasonsorientationprogramsfail:Theprogramwasnotplanned;theemployeewasunawareofthejobrequirements;theemployeedoesnotfeelwelcome.Employeeorientationisimportant-orientationprovidesalotofbenefits,andyoucanusefeedbacktomakeyourorientationsevenbetter.Allnewemployeesshouldcompleteanewemploymentorientationprogramthatisdesignedtoassisttheminadjustingtotheirjobsandworkenvironmentandtoinstillapositiveworkattitudeandmotivationattheonset.Athoughtfulnewemployeeorientationprogramcanreduceturnoverandsaveanorganizationthousandsofdollars.Onereasonpeoplechangejobsisbecausetheyneverfeelwelcome...