ONBOARDING CHECKLIST

Track every step of a new hire's onboarding, from offer letter to 30-day check-in.

Employee Name

Start Date

Manager / Department

0 of 0 tasks completed (0%)

How to use the Employee Onboarding Checklist

Enter the new hire's name, role and start date.

Work through the pre-built stages, from before day one to the end of the first month, ticking tasks as they are done. Add, rename or delete tasks to match how your business actually works.

Export the checklist as a PDF for the employee's file, or keep it open in the browser and update it as the weeks go by.

When to use it

Onboarding goes wrong in small businesses not because people do not care but because nobody owns the list: the laptop is ordered late, the payroll form is missed, the first-week introductions never happen. A checklist that starts before the first day and runs to the first-month review turns those into visible tasks. Use it for every hire, including part-timers and contractors, so the experience is the same each time.

How the stages are built

The checklist ships with four stages: before the first day (contract, payroll details, equipment ordered, accounts created), the first day (welcome, tour, setup, first task), the first week (introductions, shadowing, expectations) and the first month (check-in, first review, feedback both ways). Every item can be renamed or deleted and new ones added, so the list should end up looking like your business, not like ours. Ticks are saved in this browser as you go; the PDF is the snapshot for the employee's file.

Worked example

A workshop hires a second joiner, starting Monday 5 October. Before day one: contract signed and returned by 28 September; payroll and tax forms collected; workbench, tools and PPE ordered by 30 September; added to the shift planner. Day one: 8:30 arrival, safety briefing, tour, introduced to the two existing staff, first small job paired with the owner. First week: shadow one full job start to finish; shown how the quoting sheet and the delivery notes work. First month: 30-minute review on 2 November, both sides say what surprised them. Owner ticks each line as it happens; if a line is still open on the date, that is the reminder.

Common mistakes

Starting the list on day one. Half the failures (no laptop, no login, no payroll form) happen because nothing was done the week before.

Everything owned by the owner. Give the tour, the shadowing and the introductions to the existing team; it is also how they meet.

No first-month review. The person who is quietly struggling at week three leaves at week six.

Keeping the ticks in the browser only. Export the PDF at the end of the first month; it is part of the employment record.

When this tool is the wrong one

It is one checklist for one hire. If you take on several people a month, or need onboarding tied to training records and compliance sign-offs, that is HR software. For the contract itself, a lawyer or your jurisdiction's standard template; the agreement generator here covers freelance engagements, not employment. For rostering the new hire into the week, the Shift Planner.

Good to know

Progress is saved in your browser, so you can keep one checklist per hire and come back to it. The default tasks are a starting point, not legal advice; add whatever your industry requires, such as safety training or certification checks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a free employee onboarding checklist template?

Yes — the Onboarding Checklist covers four stages (Before First Day, Day One, First Week, First Month) with ready-made tasks you can check off, edit, or add to.

How do I track new hire onboarding progress?

The checklist shows a live progress bar and a count of completed vs. total tasks as you check items off.

Can I customize the checklist with my own onboarding tasks?

Yes, you can add custom tasks to any section and delete any of the default ones that don't apply to your company.