What Should Be Included In Onboarding

Starting a new job is exciting, but it can also be pretty overwhelming for new employees. A great onboarding program smooths the transition, making new hires feel welcomed, informed, and ready to dive into their new roles. But what exactly should you include to create a winning onboarding experience? Here's a breakdown of the essentials every business should cover.

8 Onboarding Essentials

Hiring the right person is only half the battle, how you welcome and train them sets the tone for everything that follows. A solid onboarding experience isn’t just about paperwork and passwords. It’s about helping new employees feel confident, connected, and ready to contribute.

So, what exactly should be included in onboarding?

1. Warm Welcome and Company Overview

First impressions matter! Kick things off with a warm welcome. Introduce new hires to their teams, supervisors, and key contacts. Give an overview of the company's history, culture, mission, vision, and core values. This helps new employees quickly connect with their purpose and see how their role contributes to the bigger picture.

2. Administrative Essentials

Let's get the paperwork out of the way efficiently. HR paperwork isn’t anyone’s favorite part, but it’s necessary. Streamlining it can make a huge difference.

• Tax forms (W-4, I-9, direct deposit, etc.)

• State and federal compliance paperwork

• Employee handbook review and acknowledgment

• Benefit enrollment materials

• NDAs or non-compete agreements (if applicable)

Tip: Use digital tools to simplify the process and reduce bottlenecks. A good payroll and HR platform (like Horizon’s) can make document management painless and fast.

3. Job-Specific Training

Every onboarding plan should clearly outline job-specific duties, responsibilities, and performance expectations. Provide new hires with thorough training on the tools, systems, and software they'll use daily. Pairing them with experienced mentors or offering structured job shadowing can help them feel supported as they learn.

4. Clear Communication Channels

Effective communication is crucial. Ensure your new employees know exactly where to find essential resources, how to communicate within their teams, and whom to reach out to for specific questions. Clearly outline your internal communication tools—whether Slack, Microsoft Teams, or another platform—and company etiquette.

5. Company Policies and Compliance

Onboarding must cover essential policies around workplace safety, compliance, and company expectations. Clearly communicate guidelines on harassment prevention, attendance, PTO policies, dress code, and remote work (if applicable). This transparency sets clear expectations and builds mutual trust.

6. Social Integration

Don’t underestimate the importance of social integration. Facilitate casual meet-and-greet sessions, team lunches, or informal virtual hangouts. Creating opportunities for personal connections helps new hires feel part of the team quicker, reducing stress and increasing engagement.

7. Feedback Loops

Onboarding shouldn't feel one-sided. Encourage regular check-ins with new hires to gather feedback on their onboarding experience. This helps you identify gaps or areas for improvement and signals that their input matters—fostering a culture of openness from day one.

8. Continuous Development

Onboarding doesn't end after the first week. Schedule follow-up training sessions and ongoing professional development opportunities. This continuous approach shows new hires that you're invested in their long-term growth, which enhances job satisfaction and retention.

Bring Your Onboarding to the Next Level

An effective onboarding program is an investment in your team’s future success. By incorporating these essentials, you'll empower new hires to become productive, engaged employees faster.

Onboarding Isn’t Just an HR Task: It’s a Business Strategy

When done right, onboarding boosts retention, speeds up productivity, and builds trust. When done poorly, it leaves people confused, frustrated, and ready to leave.

At Horizon Payroll Solutions, we help businesses streamline their HR, payroll, and timekeeping processes—so you can focus on people, not paperwork.

Need help building a better onboarding experience? Contact us today to learn how our tools and support can help you welcome new hires the right way.

This content does not constitute legal advice and does not address federal, state or local law.