Editor's note: Many of you have had discussions with your Synebar consultant about your organization’s approach to new employee orientation. As you know, we are firmly convinced that a little “up front” investment in this area pays big dividends in the long run. We believe this because we have seen it work. But, you needn’t take our word for it. Here’s what one of our contacts has to say about it!
By Brady Bearden, Director of Loss Control, Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative (CHELCO)
At Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative (CHELCO), we believe in giving new employees as much information about our cooperative as they can absorb in the first few days/weeks of employment. Although it is like drinking from a fire hydrant in that they may not be able to swallow it all at first, we find that they do retain plenty of information that they can draw from as they settle into their jobs.
We believe in this approach so strongly that we devote two full days to the process. We take all new employees in small groups, through a session with a variety of speakers. Our key employees are, in fact, the speakers. Here's what our agenda for those two days looks like:
Day One-
On the first day we start with an “around the room” introductory period. Next, our general Manager/CEO has a thirty to forty five minute briefing spot on the agenda. Then, each Vice President has a thirty minute time slot in which to meet and speak to the group. They each discuss their own area of responsibility and the functions and positions that report to them. As examples:
The Human Resources representative explains all the new employee benefits, such as insurance, retirement plans, vacation time, and security issues that a new employee will need to comfortably begin a new career. Photo identification/key cards are issued at this time. The Human Resources Manager also gives a brief presentation covering all the policies and procedures of the Cooperative and where to find them.
The Manager of Marketing briefs the new employees on the function of the Marketing department and all the outside activities and advertising involving the Cooperative.
The Director of Communications gives a brief on all public relations and communications issues facing the Cooperative and the community.
With a lunch break in between, this series of presentations fills the first day of the orientation.
Day Two-
The Director of Loss Control and Safety begins the second day of orientation with a Safety briefing, along with distributing Safety Manuals to each employee.
Next, all of the new hires are given a comprehensive Defensive Driving course to make them more aware of today’s dangers in the driving public.
At this point in the orientation, it is lunch time on day two, and the entire group is taken to lunch.
After lunch, the afternoon is spent “on tour,” as we take the new staffers on a visit to each of our five area/district offices and the Operations Center. This is done to accomplish two things: to assist the new employees in geographically locating each office, and to give them a chance to meet the area office personnel whom they may not ordinarily meet at their new assigned daily worksite.
At CHELCO, we believe that this investment of upfront time and effort provides a positive influence on the attitude and outlook of each new employee. They are given ample time to ask questions of each presenter and have proven to be more informed. Since we instituted this program, our new hires exhibit higher morale. Regardles of how much detail they retain, each new staff member starts off knowing that CHELCO values them enough to have invested this amount of time to get them off on the right foot, starting from day one!