A simple plan for the first 90 days that helps new hourly staff get productive quickly and makes them more likely to stay.
Hourly roles in retail, hospitality, healthcare, cleaning, warehousing and field service often see their highest turnover in the first weeks. A new hire who arrives to find no one expecting them, no schedule and no training plan may simply not come back. A clear, repeatable onboarding plan is one of the cheapest ways to reduce that early loss, and it means managers do not have to reinvent the process every time. Our guide on reducing employee turnover covers the wider picture.
To total hours with breaks and overtime, use our time card calculator.
Our pre-onboarding checklist and welcome email template make this quick.
Build skills step by step. A simple training plan lists the tasks to learn, who teaches them and how you will know they are learned. Keep early shifts at times when experienced staff are around and the pace is manageable, rather than throwing new hires into the busiest rush or a solo closing shift.
| When | Focus |
|---|---|
| Shift 1 | Tour, systems, shadow buddy on the floor |
| Shifts 2–3 | Register with buddy, returns policy, opening checklist |
| Shifts 4–6 | Work the register independently with support nearby; restocking |
| Shifts 7–10 | Closing tasks, handling common customer questions, first solo hours |
Adjust the plan to the role, and write it down so every new hire gets the same start.
A buddy is only helpful if they know what is expected. Before the new hire starts, tell the buddy which tasks to show, which mistakes are common and when to check in with the manager. Make sure the buddy is scheduled on the same shifts and has time to help, rather than being expected to train while also covering a full workload.
Let the rest of the team know someone new is starting, with their name and role. A simple “welcome, this is Jordan, they started today” at the start of the shift makes a new person feel expected rather than in the way. Small gestures, such as a name on the schedule board or a team message, cost nothing and help a lot.
Few things damage trust faster than a wrong first paycheck. Make sure the new hire is set up in payroll before their first shift, that every hour, including training and orientation time, is recorded, and that missed punches are fixed quickly. Training, orientation and required meetings are generally paid time for non-exempt employees. See our guide on calculating payroll hours.
Short, scheduled conversations catch problems early. Useful questions:
At 90 days, give clear feedback on performance, agree on next goals and, if things are going well, say so.
Federal rules require Form I-9 to be completed within set deadlines, Form W-4 for federal tax withholding, and new hire reporting to your state. Many states have their own withholding forms, notices of pay rate or required postings. Keep a checklist per state, and store signed documents securely. The digital employee file in EZTime helps keep these documents together.
With EZTime, a new employee can be added, scheduled and ready to clock in from the mobile app, a kiosk or NFC on day one. E-signatures and digital forms reduce paperwork, the schedule is visible in the app and managers can see training hours so the first paycheck is right.
Plan for at least the first 90 days, with most structured training in the first two weeks.
For non-exempt employees, required training and orientation time is generally paid time.
Typically Form I-9, Form W-4, any state withholding form, direct deposit details, emergency contact and policy acknowledgments, plus state-specific notices.
It helps a lot, especially in the first two weeks. Choose someone experienced and give them time to help.
Track how many new hires are still with you after 30 and 90 days, and ask them for feedback at check-ins.
Contact them quickly and kindly. Sometimes there is a simple reason, such as confusion about the time or place. Clear pre-start communication prevents most of these cases.
Add an employee, put them on the schedule and let them clock in from the app.