When you start a new job there are some formalities that you must complete, in other words some things you must do before you can get started at your first day of work. Your First Day at Work is a short guide to get you familiar with what you will need to do and bring to your new employer and why.
New Employee Orientation
When you report to work your first day, you will go through new employee orientation. In this orientation, you provide the employer with some personal information. Much of this personal information is needed so the employer can pay you properly. Your employer will also discuss the company rules you have to follow.
Information You Ned to Provide Your Employer
Proving Your Right to Work
Your employer must see some specific personal documents that show you have a legal right to work in the Unites States. Prior to your first day of employment, your employer may give you a list what documents you may bring to the employer. You must show your employer the original document. Your employer will examine the original document and give the original document back to you.
Your employer cannot tell you which listed documents you can bring. The most common documents that employees bring are a driver license or state ID card and a social security card.
The driver license or state ID card establishes your identity. A school ID card with a photograph is also acceptable. Individuals under the age of 18 can also present a school record or report card.
The social security card establishes your right to work in the United States. If you cannot bring your employer your original social security card, an original or certified copy of your birth certificate is acceptable.
Getting Your Check
In order to get you paid, you will need to give your employer your social security number. You do not need to show your social security card. You must know your social security number and provide your employer with the social security number when asked.
You will also have to fill out a Form W-4 and Form A-4 to get paid. These forms tell the employer how much to withhold from your check for federal and state income tax purposes. These forms provide instructions on how to complete the forms.
Most employers also offer employees the opportunity to have their check deposited directly into a checking or savings account. If you want to have your check directly deposited into a checking account, your employer will need to know your account information. This account information is on every personal check. Most employers ask for a blank voided check to get this information.
If you choose to have your check deposited into a bank savings account, you will need to provide your employer with the bank ABA number or routing number and your savings account information. This information can be found on a check or your bank can provide you with this information.
Beneficiary Designation
Your employer may offer life insurance. A beneficiary is who gets the life insurance money if you die. You get to choose the beneficiary. In order to designate the beneficiary, you will need to give the employer your beneficiary’s full name and relationship to you. You may also have to tell your employer the beneficiary’s date or birth, social security number, address, or phone number.
Emergency Contact
You will need to designate an emergency contact. To properly designate an emergency contact, the employer will need the name and phone number of your emergency contact.
Information your Employer Provides You
During this new employee orientation, and for the next several days, your employer will tell you about the company rules and what the company expects of you. Listen carefully. Do not hesitate to ask questions about anything that you do not understand.
Your employer may also give you a handbook or other documents about the company rules and what the company expects of you and ask you to read the handbook or documents on your own. Read the handbook or other documents. Do not hesitate to ask questions about anything that you read and do not understand.
Each company has its own set of rules and employee expectations. However, there are three expectations that all companies have employers expect employees to clock in and out, not engage in harassment and work well with supervisors.
Beginning and Ending Work
You may need to clock in and out to begin and end work. Clock in at the beginning of the shift and clock out at the end of your shift. Also, if you leave work for any reason during your shift, you must clock out and clock in again if you return during your shift. Your employer will explain to you how to clock in and out. Improper clocking in and out may cause you to be paid more, or less, than what you pay should be.
Issues of Harassment
It is important to remember not to mistreat others at the workplace. No one should be mistreated or harassed ever.
However, certain Federal laws make it it especially inappropriate to harass a person based on their sex, race, color, national origin, religion, age 40 and over, disability, or genetic information. This includes making inappropriate comments or telling jokes based on these statuses.
Employers will not tolerate this inappropriate behavior. Often, an employee’s inappropriate behavior based on these “protected” status result in the employee’s firing.
On the other hand, you should not ever be mistreated because of your sex, race, color, national origin, religion, age 40 and over, disability, or genetic information. If you experience any inappropriate behavior based on your sex, race, color, national origin, religion, age 40 and over, disability, or genetic information, you should report this behavior to your supervisor or the Human resource department. The employer, not you, must talk to the employee causing the problem.
Work Well with Your Supervisor
You are the most important person that will make you successful on the job. Your supervisor is the second most important person that makes you successful on the job. Work at getting along with your supervisor. Listen to what your supervisor tells you to do. Ask your supervisor how you are doing on the job and what you can do better.
If you can convince your supervisor through your job performance and expressing a willingness to be a successful employee, most supervisors will be happy to help you.
Knowing what the employer expects of you as an employer is important for job success. Pay attention to what supervisors and managers tell you about what you should do. Ask questions if you have to.
Good luck.
