Initiation Plan

The initiation plan comprises the most important steps for new employees to get acclimated with their future working environment. The new employee receives all relevant information so that ambiguities can be reduced. 

An initiation plan is a tool to accompany employees into a new company or to prepare them for a new position. The initiation plan is a sign of great appreciation for the employee, as the employer demonstrates that they care about the employee’s initiation by providing a structured process. For the employer, on the other hand, it is important to have a clear idea of when and in what time frame the employee will be taught the specific know-how in order to achieve full work efficiency as quickly as possible. 

An initiation plan is made up of five main components: 

1. Preparation and welcome
The work space has been prepared for the new employee. Their computer or machine has been set up accordingly and a colleague is at hand to take the new employee under their wing. It is important that the immediate superior is there to welcome the new employee and introduce them to the team. 

2. Information transfer
The new employee should be informed about safety-relevant information as well as workflows within the company. This is where the new employee should be introduced to the departments, their responsibilities as well as the most important points of contact within the company. This includes information on the premises, such as the copying room, the break room or sanitary facilities. 

3. Practical training
The best solution is for the employee’s predecessor to take over the practical training. If the predecessor has already left the company, the training should be done by colleagues with similar responsibilities. 

4. Mentoring by the immediate superior
The initiation should not only be left to the colleagues but should be managed by the immediate superior, who should regularly check in on the status of the initiation and schedule feedback sessions with the new employee. 

5. Decision on permanent employment
The end of the initiation plan also often means the end of the probationary period. This means that the employer has to make a decision whether or not keep the employee. The new employer also has a decision to make on whether or not they feel that they have settled in with the company. A well-structured initiation plan should have a positive impact on the employee’s decision making.