Employee Onboarding Plan Template
A structured 90-day onboarding plan covering pre-boarding, first week orientation, 30-day training, and 60/90-day performance milestones. Set new hires up for success from day one.
Pre-Boarding & First Week
Set up everything before day one and make the first week count
Pre-Boarding (Before Day 1):
• Send welcome email with first-day logistics
• Set up email, accounts, and system access
• Prepare workstation and equipment
• Assign onboarding buddy/mentor
• Share employee handbook and company culture docs
Day 1:
• Team welcome and office tour
• Manager 1:1: role expectations and goals
• HR orientation: benefits, policies, compliance
• IT walkthrough: tools, passwords, security
Week 1:
• [Department-specific training sessions]
• [Shadow key team members]
• [Complete compliance training]
• End-of-week check-in with manager
First 30 Days — Learn
Focused learning and initial contribution
Learning Goals:
• [Understand the product/service deeply]
• [Learn key processes and workflows]
• [Build relationships with cross-functional teams]
First Deliverables:
• [Complete first small project or task]
• [Present learnings to the team]
30-Day Check-in: Manager reviews progress, adjusts plan if needed, and sets 60-day targets.
Days 60–90 — Contribute & Own
Independent contribution and role ownership
60-Day Goals:
• [Own a specific workstream or project]
• [Contribute to team meetings and decisions]
• [Identify one process improvement]
90-Day Goals:
• [Operate independently in the role]
• [Deliver a measurable business outcome]
• [Set goals for the next quarter with manager]
90-Day Review: Formal performance review covering strengths, areas for growth, and next quarter's objectives.
How to Use This Template
Start before day one
Pre-boarding is the most overlooked phase. Have accounts, equipment, and a welcome package ready before the employee arrives. First impressions set the tone for the entire experience.
Assign a buddy
Pair every new hire with an experienced team member who can answer informal questions. This reduces the anxiety of being new and accelerates cultural integration.
Space out learning
Do not cram everything into week one. Spread training across 90 days with increasing complexity. Week 1 is logistics, month 1 is learning, months 2-3 are contributing.
Hold regular check-ins
Schedule weekly 1:1s for the first month, then bi-weekly through day 90. Use these to gather feedback, remove blockers, and adjust the onboarding plan as needed.
Customize in Dewx
Inside Dewx, tell Dew: "Create an onboarding plan for a new [role] starting on [date]." Dew builds a 90-day onboarding workflow with automated tasks, manager check-in reminders, and milestone tracking. Every step is tracked in OPS Hub so nothing falls through the cracks.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What should an employee onboarding plan include?
A comprehensive onboarding plan covers pre-boarding (before day one), first day logistics, first week orientation, 30-day learning milestones, 60-day contribution goals, and 90-day performance expectations. Include IT setup, team introductions, training schedules, mentor assignment, and regular check-ins with the manager.
How long should onboarding last?
Effective onboarding lasts at least 90 days. Research from the Brandon Hall Group shows that a structured 90-day onboarding process improves new hire retention by 82%. The first week covers logistics and culture, the first month focuses on training, and months two and three shift toward independent contribution.
What are the most common onboarding mistakes?
The biggest mistakes are information overload on day one, no structured plan beyond the first week, skipping cultural onboarding, not assigning a buddy or mentor, and failing to set clear 30/60/90 day expectations. A good onboarding plan spaces learning across three months, not three days.
How does Dewx automate employee onboarding?
Dewx OPS Hub creates automated onboarding workflows. When a new hire is added, Dew triggers a sequence: sends welcome emails, assigns training tasks, schedules manager check-ins, and tracks completion of each onboarding milestone. Managers see a dashboard of where every new hire stands in the process.
Onboarding, Automated
Simple, Transparent Pricing
Starting at $29/mo for solopreneurs. $79/mo for teams. All features included.
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Dew automates onboarding workflows, tracks milestone completion, and ensures every new hire has a structured path to success.
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Dewx automates your entire onboarding process with task checklists, manager reminders, and milestone tracking. Reduce time-to-productivity by 40%.