Lecture 7 Induction

Question 1

What do Armstrong and Taylor say about induction?

Answer 1

‘Induction is the process of receiving and welcoming employees when they first join a company and giving them basic information that they need to settle down quickly and happily’ (Armstrong and Taylor, 2014:257)

Question 2

What is the aim of induction?

Answer 2

To smooth early stages and establish a favourable attitude towards the organisation
Obtain an effective output from the employee in as short amount of time as possible
Reduce the chances of the employee leaving quickly

Question 3

What areas will new staff worry about?

Answer 3

Who they are working for and who with
What are they going to be doing
What will they do on their first day
Building layout
How do they get to the workplace?

Question 4

What do Armstrong and Taylor say about who should be leading the induction?

Answer 4

‘wherever possible start with the departmental manager, not the immediate team leader’ (Armstrong and Taylor, 2014:257)

Question 5

What might the manager do in induction?

Answer 5

Give a general welcome and then hand over to the team leader/ supervisor

Question 6

Why does the manager need to stay involved?

Answer 6

So as not to be seen as a remote figure

Question 7

What should the team leader/ supervisor do?

Answer 7

Introduce the new employee to their fellow team members

Question 8

What is the buddy system?

Answer 8

Allocate someone of a similar status

An effective way of ensuring the new employee can settle into the job quickly

Question 9

What do CIPD say in their fact sheet about induction?

Answer 9

Orientation and socialisation in the workplace
Onboarding
‘employees who have a well thought out induction are more likely to stay with the organisation. However designing an appropriate and cost-effective induction package is a complex task’

Question 10

What should be included in an effective induction?

Answer 10

A clear outline of the job requirements
Explanation of the terms and conditions
Orientation
Awareness of what the organisation does
Meeting with senior members of the organisation
Health and safety information

Question 11

What does orientation involve?

Answer 11

Explaining where the facilities are and how the new employee fits into the team

Question 12

Who needs induction?

Answer 12

All staff:

• full time
• part time
• casual
• temporary
• agency staff

Question 13

Give an example of what should be included in an induction checklist?

Answer 13

Pre-employment
Health and safety
Organisation
Terms and conditions
Financial
Training plans
Culture and values

Question 14

What happens as a result of ineffective induction?

Answer 14

Poor integration into the team
Low morale
Loss of productivity
Failure to work to their highest potential
Might leave

Question 15

What might happen if the new member of staff leaves?

Answer 15

Additional cost of finding a replacement
Wasted time for induction
Lowering morale of other staff
Damage to company’s reputation

Question 16

What other concerns do Marchington and Wilkinson point out (2008:266-267)?

Answer 16

Initiation ceremonies
Duty of care
Jokes
Neglecting the new staff member

Question 17

What do Armstrong and Taylor say about the psychological contract?

Answer 17

‘a set of unwritten expectations that exist between individual employees and their employers’
‘a system of beliefs that encompasses the actions employees believe are expected of them and what response they expect in return from their employer, and reciprocally the actions employers believe are expected of them and what response they expect in return from their employees’ (Armstrong and Taylor, 2014:419-423)

Question 18

Why is induction important in terms of the psychological contract?

Answer 18

Behavioural expectations
Not explicitly defined
Expectations and disappointments
It is important for developing the psychological contract

Question 19

What does induction vary upon?

Answer 19

The organisation

Question 20

What should the induction process be?

Answer 20

Evaluated