How we support our people to thrive
Onboarding a new hire
A solid employee onboarding process matters.
Onboarding a new hire
You’ve made it through the hiring process; the work is really only beginning. You now need to onboard your new hire, an incredibly important stage for setting the right impression and getting the new hire up to speed.
Plenty of research emphasizes the importance of this time, especially when it comes to retention. Up to 20% of employee turnover happens within the first 45 days of employment. That’s scary stuff, but here’s the good news: 69% of employees are more likely to stay with a company for three years if they experience great onboarding.
A solid employee onboarding process matters. But unfortunately, it’s also an area where a lot of organisations fall short.
Check out our Manager Guide - A guide to ace-ing onboarding for help.
Onboarding Trello
We use Trello to support the new team members onboarding process.
Onboarding Buddy
An onboarding buddy is an existing employee who guides the new hire on their first weeks and assists them navigate Catalpa.
{% content-ref url="onboarding/onboarding-buddy-guide" %} onboarding-buddy-guide {% endcontent-ref %}
30/60/90 Day Plan
A 30, 60, 90 day plan is a framework for planning out how we onboard new team members. Its purpose is to make sure new team members start off on the right foot, feel welcomed, and get familiar with how the team and the organisation work.
{% content-ref url="onboarding/30-60-90-day-plan" %} 30-60-90-day-plan {% endcontent-ref %}
Onboarding procedure (first 2 weeks)
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1
Prepare access and accounts
Set up email, calendar, core tools, and team channels before day one.
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2
Share role context
Review responsibilities, current priorities, and expected outcomes for the first month.
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3
Introduce team and rituals
Schedule introductions and add the new team member to key recurring meetings.
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4
Provide starter tasks
Assign low-risk practical tasks that build confidence and familiarity.
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5
Run week-one check-in
Capture blockers, clarify expectations, and adjust support plans.