Job offers and staff inductions

You should provide information to a new worker at a rate that allows them to understand it properly. Explain what the business does and how they and their role fits in.

You may like to arrange an employee induction programme to include sessions with different members of staff so they can explain their role and their teams' role in relation to the business activities. There are a number of business areas you could cover through your induction programme, which we have outlined below.

Employee induction on administration

You may need to provide the new worker with:

• details of any occupational pension scheme
• a copy of any procedures and employee handbooks
• any uniforms and standard equipment they will need to perform their job role

Induction: terms and conditions of employment

It is a legal requirement for employers to give their employees a written statement of terms and conditions of employment within two months of starting work, except for those employees who will be working for less than one month.

It is a good idea to go through this with the new worker during the induction programme and give them details of issues such as:

• hours of work - including breaks
• sickness and holiday procedures
• disciplinary and grievance procedures

Induction: health and safety

You are legally required to provide workers with any health and safety information they need to carry out their job safely. Provide them with a copy of the business's health and safety policy and get them to sign it once they have read it. What should be in your health and safety policy?

You must inform new workers - preferably on the first day - of fire safety procedures and what to do if the fire alarm sounds. If there are particular hazards, eg in a factory or on a building site, you must ensure that new workers are made aware of them and what precautions need to be taken.

New to the job - staying safe at work.

It is a good idea to show the new workers where they:

• may smoke outside your premises - if at all
• can read your drugs and alcohol policy

For more information, see workplace policies on smoking, drugs and alcohol.

If their job involves the use or operation of machinery, you must ensure that they are properly trained, that they understand any associated risks, and that they have appropriate safety equipment. Make sure the worker knows how to operate any equipment they will be using and show them where spares, replacements, and other materials they may need are kept.

Tour of the business premises as part of the induction

Show new workers where they will be working and the location of any facilities they will need to access.

Introduction to colleagues during induction

Introduce new workers to their team colleagues in turn, and to:

• their line manager
• those responsible for human resources, training and/or IT support
• the health and safety officer
• trade union or employee representatives

Introduction to the job

You should take them through what their job entails and how this fits in with the rest of the business. It may be a good idea to buddy them with an established member of staff who can show them how to perform certain work-related tasks. You may also find that regular catch-up meetings with the new staff member in the early stages of their employment will help you maintain their progression and address any problems or concerns they may have before they become a major issue.