50+ Sample Employee Checklists

FREE Employee Checklist s to Download

50+ Sample Employee Checklists

What Is an Employee Checklist?

Types of Employee Checklists

Sample Items In an Employee Checklist

How to Create an Employee Checklist

FAQs

How do I create an employee checklist in Excel?

What is a new hire employee checklist?

What should be in a HR file?

What Is an Employee Checklist?

An employee checklist is a comprehensive checklist meant to keep tabs on the various activities and requirements relating to an employee’s needs. The checklist may serve different purposes, from employee onboarding to employee separation or termination.    

According to data compiled by G2, a majority of organizations, about 58%, say that their onboarding program is primarily focused on paperwork and company processes. Still, around 22% of companies have no formal onboarding program.  

Types of Employee Checklists

There are different kinds of employee checklists, each serving a specific purpose. Typically, Human Resources is tasked to come up with these checklists since it is their duty to oversee the needs and concerns of anything manpower or employee-related. The following are just some common examples of the different kinds of employee checklists.  

New Hire Checklist. It is rarely easy being the new student at school. Even in the workplace, adults need to learn how to adjust to a new work environment when they enter into a new job. For human resource professionals and specialists, it is their duty and obligation to help the new employee transition into their role with ease and minimal problems. This is not simple or easy to do, especially if it is a big company or organization. A new hire checklist is a practical tool that HR practitioners can use to keep track of reminders and requirements pertaining to the new employee. Most new hire checklists often contain tasks, lists key documents or a combination of both. Employee onboarding is crucial for any new hire. It is always HR’s task to ensure that new employees get a proper orientation and introduction to the company. Employee Separation Checklist. Another essential employee checklist is a separation or termination checklist. If there is a systemic process of welcoming new hires, there is also an exact procedure for outgoing employees. Whether an employee resigns or is terminated, there is a series of steps that must be accomplished before the separation is finalized. It is usually the responsibility of the human resources department to initiate or spearhead this. To ensure that no stone is left unturned and that the transition be made as smooth as possible, an employee separation checklist would be a useful tool indeed. For instance, the outgoing employee would typically need clearance from all departments and would have to undergo an exit interview. All these steps and requirements ought to be documented or enumerated in the separation checklist. Personal Motivation Checklist. Being an employee has its ups and downs. For a typical employee, there may be days where you feel unstoppable and productive. And yet, you cannot seem to avoid days where you just feel unmotivated and unaccomplished. Keeping a personal checklist where you can keep track of your tasks, duties, as well as needs. It’s a checklist that is not just made up of work demands and responsibilities, but it transcends that. It moves beyond just your ordinary to-do list. It is the kind of checklist that is also personally curated to suit your individual needs and preferences. A personal checklist that not just reminds and dictates, but keeps you grounded and focused on what truly matters. Training Checklist. Training and development is a core aspect in an employee’s professional growth. In addition to recruitment and compensation, human resources is tasked to oversee the development and growth of the employees as well. To remain sharp, competitive and relevant in the workplace, knowledge and skills training is still the way to go. Without adequate training, employees run the risk of remaining stagnant and unsatisfied in their professional role. It is important for skills to remain relevant and updated. With a training checklist, human resource practitioners can keep better track of the needs and tools required to implement employee training sessions. To illustrate, a typical training session would need a resource person or speaker to lead the session. It is Human Resource’s task to organize and facilitate such a session. Thus, one of the important items to include in a training checklist would be an honorarium or certificate of appreciation for the speaker.

Sample Items In an Employee Checklist

The content of your employee checklist would highly depend on your objective and the kind of checklist you are preparing. An average checklist is also no more than a page. But there can be many items to tick off in an employee checklist. Again, it all depends on your needs and the kind of checklist you are creating.   

Conduct office tour and orientation. For a new hire or onboarding checklist, a vital component is the orientation. This is meant to help the new employee get better acquainted with the company culture and its organizational structure. Company rules and policies are also discussed during the orientation. This gives the new hire a better idea of how things operate within the organization. Along with the employee orientation, a tour of the physical office usually accompanies it. It is normally HR’s duty to introduce the new hire to the rest of the team. To make the employee’s first few days on the job as comfortable and productive as possible, it might be good to start getting to know the people you will be working with and sharing an office space with. Turnover of employee handbook. Another key item that should be in a new employee checklist is the handover or turnover of the company’s Code of Conduct. In some cases, it is simply referred to as the employee handbook. An employee orientation can only cover so much within a given day or two. But an employee handbook or Code of Conduct is more comprehensive, technical, and detailed. The handbook itself is company property and is usually returned once the employee cuts ties with the organization. An organization’s Code of Conduct can cover a wide range of topics including disciplinary action, company benefits, confidentiality policies, holidays, and non-disclosure policies. The code or handbook is supposed to aid the new hire in understanding and adjusting better to the new work environment. Fill in the paperwork. Documents and paperwork are essential in a lot of professional environments. Whether it is for new employees or exiting employees, there is usually a number of forms or paperwork to fill out. Human resources need to keep a file on all the employees. Resumes, application forms, interview transcripts, bank forms, job offers, academic transcripts, training certificates and disciplinary letters are just some of the many types of documentation an employee may have on file. With the help of an employee checklist, human resource practitioners have to keep track of all these documents and forms. Most professionals keep an extra photocopy or digitized version of these documents to ensure that there is a backup in case of loss.

How to Create an Employee Checklist

To create an employee checklist, you need to have a good understanding of what it is that you need. And if you are looking for something quick and easy, a sample template can be used as a guide and reference. Select a sample checklist from the examples above and follow the step-by-step guide below. 

Step 1: Objective

The first step in creating an employee checklist is determining what kind of checklist you need in the first place. You have to establish your objectives clearly. Why do you need a checklist in the first place? What do you hope to accomplish when you’ve ticked off all the items on your employee checklist? These are the types of questions you should be asking when stating your objectives. Keep it brief and straight to the point. A couple of specific or targeted objectives should do the job. You don’t want to lengthen this section any more than a few lines because it merely serves as an introductory section.   

Step 2: Format

The next step is determining the type of format you want. Again, it would greatly depend on your preferences and needs. An average checklist is simple and easy to make. If you want a quick solution, using a predesigned template is your best bet. It is important to use a format that is easy to understand and simple enough to construct. Whether it’s a new employee checklist or a training checklist, you want to keep your list organized at all costs. It would also help if the checklist items were arranged in a logical order, either chronologically or according to urgency.      

Step 3: Item List

Once you have established the right format, then you can proceed to the checklist itself. Most checklists rarely go beyond a single page. However, how general or specific the items on your checklist would still highly depend on you. The most basic list simply enumerates tasks or reminders using bullet points or checkboxes. But if you want a more detailed checklist, you can include sub reminders below each item. For example, you can provide other key details such as the target or due date and the person responsible or in-charge.      

Step 4: Other Reminders   

The last step is optional but it can provide additional help. This section is dedicated to any other important reminders that you may have. You can provide a couple of brief notes regarding any item that might need further clarification. These reminders can be indicated below your checklist or at the bottom of the page. For example, there are times you wouldn’t have all the information you need yet, so you can note that it is still TBA or to be announced. Or you might need to revisit or follow up on a particular item or entry on your checklist. You can take note of this so you don’t end up forgetting about it.       

FAQs

How do I create an employee checklist in Excel?

To create an employee checklist in Excel, you can create a basic checklist from scratch or it would be easier and more convenient to use a predesigned template. With the latter, you can save a ton of time and effort. Simply choose any available Excel checklist template and edit it according to your needs.

What is a new hire employee checklist?

A new hire employee checklist is a detailed checklist that helps HR personnel keep track of new employee requirements. The checklist usually includes requirements, tasks, reminders, etc.

What should be in a HR file?

A basic HR file can have a number of key documents such as job descriptions, job offers, academic transcripts, performance appraisal forms, bank forms, and even warning letters or disciplinary notices.

Creating an employee checklist is quick and easy if you know your objective or purpose. Browse the wide selection of free editable templates above, choose one that best suits your needs and get started on your own checklist now!