People guide
A practical employee onboarding checklist for SMEs
Good onboarding begins before the employee arrives and continues until they can perform independently with clear expectations and support.
Before the first day
Issue employment documents, prepare equipment, create system access and share the first-week schedule. The manager should know the employee's start time and first activity.
On the first day
Welcome the employee, introduce the team, explain the role and working norms, and cover essential policies and safety requirements.
During the first week
Complete process training, confirm payroll and statutory information, agree 30/60/90-day objectives and schedule regular check-ins.
During the first 30 days
Review early performance, remove access or training obstacles, gather onboarding feedback and confirm priorities for the next month.
At probation review
Use evidence against agreed objectives. Record strengths, gaps, support provided, employee comments and the final decision.
Keep one owner accountable
HR can coordinate the process, but the manager must own role clarity, training, feedback and early performance.