How do I run an effective onboarding for new employees?
Quick answer
- 1. Prepare everything before day one: account, equipment, access and a clear onboarding checklist.
- 2. Handle the paperwork and submit the contract to REGES before or on the first working day.
- 3. Set a 30/60/90-day plan, with goals and check-in moments.
- 4. Assign a buddy or mentor to answer questions in the first weeks.
- 5. Collect regular feedback and digitalize the flow with a workflow and automated tasks.
What the law says
- The individual employment contract must be submitted to REGES no later than the day before activity starts — a mandatory onboarding step.
- The employee must be informed of the contract terms and trained in occupational health and safety (SSM) before starting work.
- The new employee's personnel file is created on hire and kept under the Labour Code.
- Personal data collected at onboarding falls under GDPR: ask only for what is necessary and on a clear legal basis.
Practical examples
- Example: a company prepares the laptop, accounts and access in advance, so the new colleague is productive from day one.
- Example: a 30/60/90-day plan with clear goals reduces the time to the employee's first real contribution.
- Example: an onboarding workflow automatically assigns tasks to HR, IT and the manager and leaves no step forgotten.
Common mistakes
- Leaving paperwork and the REGES submission to the last minute, risking delay and a fine.
- Lacking a plan for the first months, which leaves the new hire without direction and lowers retention.
- No buddy/mentor, which burdens the manager with small questions and slows integration.
- Onboarding kept over email and paper, with no digital checklist, with forgotten steps and no audit trail.
How 4softhr helps
- 4softhr offers an onboarding workflow with a checklist and tasks automatically assigned to HR, IT and the manager.
- It generates the new employee's personnel file and prepares the contract submission to REGES on time.
- 30/60/90-day plans and reviews linked to the employee record keep integration on track.
- Self-service lets the new employee fill in their data and sign documents from one place.
- Integration into the 4b2b ecosystem (4conta, 4mystaff) links onboarding to time tracking and payroll preparation.