Posted on: April 20, 2026                                                                                                                                                                                         

A new hire's first days, weeks and months establish the foundation for the rest of the employment relationship. An effective onboarding process can help make this time period more productive by introducing the employee to co-workers and familiarizing them with their job responsibilities, providing a background of the company’s culture and expectations, and giving the new hire tools and resources necessary for success. Here are nine key steps to consider to help make the most of your onboarding process.

1. Start early.

Once the applicant accepts your job offer and any post-offer screening is completed, the process of welcoming and introducing the new hire begins. Send an email or letter confirming their start date, expressing your excitement that they'll be joining the team, and letting them know that you're available to answer any questions they may have.

You may also want to create a checklist of any training they will need on workplace processes and procedures to help acclimate them once they start working.

Also, be sure to procure the necessary equipment, set up their workspace, and ensure that IT systems are ready for them for their first day of work.

If your new hire is a remote employee, be sure to allow the necessary time to ship any equipment and supplies they may need to their work location before their first day, and provide any IT contact information they could require during their set up.

2. Avoid overloading the employee.

Carefully consider how you want to break up each day of the onboarding process. For example, you don’t want to overload the employee with too much information, introductions, or work at once. Make sure your plan introduces information and work gradually.

3. Assign a buddy and/or mentor.

After informing existing employees of the new hire's start date and explaining their role, areas of focus, and relevant work history, assign a buddy or mentor to help the employee with their transition. A buddy or mentor can offer career advice, share knowledge and experiences, provide training and guidance, and listen to questions and concerns. Both the mentor and mentee can benefit from these experiences.

4. Set expectations.

Schedule a meeting with the new hire to set expectations. During the meeting, provide your new hire with an agenda for the first week or so. Review job responsibilities, objectives and expectations, and explain how their role contributes to the success of the company. Instruct the employee to review your employee handbook and discuss key issues, such as work schedules, timekeeping practices, and how performance is measured. Obtain the employee's acknowledgment of the handbook and retain it in their personnel file.

5. Complete new hire paperwork.

Employers must comply with numerous requirements, including paperwork and notices, when hiring new employees. In addition to required new hire paperwork , documentation is recommended to help administer payroll, benefits and other HR responsibilities. Here are some key forms to keep in mind.

Required new hire paperwork.

Form I-9

A Form I-9 must be completed for each new hire to verify the individual’s identity and that they are authorized to work in the United States. To complete Section 2 of the I-9, employees must present documents for this verification. The Form I-9 includes a List of Acceptable Documents (List A, List B and List C). An employee must present one document from List A or one document from List B and one document from List C.

• List A documents: establish both identity and employment authorization

• List B documents: establish identity only

• List C documents: establish employment authorization only

Typically, for the Form I-9, employers must examine an employee’s documentation in the employee’s physical presence.

However, if an employer is unable to physically meet with the worker to review Form I-9 documents, federal law allows employers to use an authorized representative to fulfill this function on the employer’s behalf. Under this method, the authorized representative will view the documents in the remote employee’s presence.

Employers may follow an alternative procedure to the in-person physical document examination method, provided they meet certain requirements.

Form W-4

All new hires must complete a Form W-4 to determine the amount of federal income tax to withhold from their wages. Several states also require a tax withholding form. Employers should ensure they are using the latest version of the form, which may change each year. If the employee has questions or asks for advice on how to complete a W-4, instruct them to speak with a tax advisor.

Notice of Coverage Options

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), employers must provide a Notice of Coverage Options to all new hires within 14 days of their start date. This requirement applies even if the employer doesn't offer health insurance and/or the employee is not eligible for health insurance.

Wage and hour

Under federal law, employers that use the tip credit must first notify tipped employees of:

• The minimum cash wage that will be paid;
• The tip credit amount, which cannot exceed the value of the tips actually received by the employee;
• That all tips received by the tipped employee must be retained by the employee except for a valid tip pooling arrangement limited to employees who customarily and regularly receive tips.

State and local notices

Many states and local jurisdictions also require that employers provide specific notices to employees at the time of hire. These required notices may cover state disability insurance, state-run retirement programs, leave entitlements, harassment and discrimination, workers' compensation, unemployment, and other employment-related benefits and protections. Many states require employers to provide, in writing, the employer’s business name, address, and telephone number; the employee’s rate of pay and regular payday; and certain other information. Provide new hire notices in accordance with your state and local requirements.

New hire reporting

Federal law requires that employers submit certain information to their state regarding each new hire within 20 days of the employee's start date, but several states have shorter timeframes. New hire reporting is included in many RUN Powered by ADP® packages. If you have to fulfill these responsibilities on your own, you have several options, such as submitting the new hire's W-4 or an equivalent form. Check your state's new hire reporting program for details.

Emergency contact (required in California only)

In California, employers must now provide employees with the opportunity to designate an emergency contact for situations where the employee is arrested or detained at the worksite, during work hours or while otherwise performing job duties. The opportunity must have been provided by March 30, 2026, or their date of hire, whichever is later.

Recommended new hire paperwork.

Handbook acknowledgment

After new hires are provided with a copy of your employee handbook, they should sign a form acknowledging that they have received the handbook and are responsible for complying with all company policies. Make sure you give employees enough time to read and ask questions about the handbook before they are required to sign the acknowledgment form.

Payroll authorizations

If you offer direct deposit, provide new hires with a direct deposit authorization, if they would like their pay deposited directly into their bank account each pay period. A payroll deduction authorization should also be provided for voluntary deductions, such as health insurance premiums and retirement savings plans.

Benefits information

All new hires should receive information about the benefits programs you offer as well as any forms required to enroll.

Emergency contact

An emergency contact form lets you know who to contact in the case of an emergency. This form should be completed within the employee's first few days of work.

Receipt of company property

If you provide your new hire with company property, such as a laptop, cell phone, or key have the employee complete a receipt of company property form. This acknowledges that the employee has received the company property listed, that they will maintain it in good condition, and that they will return it upon separation from the company, or earlier if requested.

6. Make introductions and promote communication.

Within their first few days on the job, introduce new employees to core members of the company and their team. These introductions typically only take a short amount of time but can go a long way in helping employees feel welcomed. Have a few questions ready to spark conversation and allow the team to get to know one another. Then, schedule regular meetings between new hires and their co-workers. Also, hold supervisors accountable for maintaining communication with new hires and including them in key meetings.

If you have employees working remotely, you should also tailor this process for them. For example, you may want to use video conferencing to help introduce them to co-workers. In addition, consider teambuilding activities in which both remote workers and on-site workers can participate. For instance, some employers host ice cream socials for employees. Another option is competing in online trivia, puzzles, or other games.

7. Address training and development.

Ensure the employee completes required training, such as sexual harassment or safety training, as well as training on your company's mission, culture and procedures.

Federal, state and local laws may have specific requirements for who can lead the training and what it must include.

For example, several states, one district, and a few local jurisdictions, including the locations in the following table, require employers to provide training on sexual harassment. Most of these requirements apply to both supervisors and employees. Check applicable rules to ensure compliance.

Supervisors should also start a dialogue with new hires about their career interests, and identify training and career development opportunities that may help them reach their goals.

8. Check in and provide feedback.

Schedule regular calls or meetings to check in with new hires to see how they're transitioning into their new role, and if they need any additional training or further clarification on workplace expectations. If the new hire works remotely, consider even more frequent calls/virtual meetings to provide more opportunities for information to flow both ways.

Supervisors should also provide performance feedback immediately following a behavior they'd like to reinforce or address. Also, consider conducting a more comprehensive evaluation at regular intervals (such as every 90 days), especially during their first year on the job. Train supervisors on how to provide effective feedback and coaching for new hires and employees.

9. Evaluate.

Since a primary goal of onboarding initiatives is to reduce turnover, make sure to track turnover in relation to the success of your onboarding program. Also solicit feedback from new hires, and anyone else involved in the onboarding process, about their experience. Use the data to make improvements or adjustments.

A growing number of employers are also conducting "stay interviews," asking their employees why they work for the company and what could cause them to leave. These interviews typically include questions about what the employee likes most and least about their job, what the employer/supervisor can do to support them in the challenging aspects of their job, whether they believe their talents are being fully utilized, and what would make them consider leaving. This data can also help inform potential changes to the onboarding process.

Conclusion

Ensure your onboarding process helps you make a positive first impression and build a solid foundation for the rest of the employment relationship.