Whenever any new employee gets hired in a company, they must undergo a few processes, get introduced to a company, and learn their rules and regulations. In today’s post, we will know the difference between induction and orientation, so without wasting any time, let’s dig deep.

Induction and orientation are two important processes used by companies. Both the terms are connected. They are a part of the introductory program developed by the companies to make their employees feel comfortable and obtain the information that they want to work productively.

Since both the processes happen during the first few days when an employee has joined the organization, it becomes tough to differentiate between them. Induction is generally a process used for introducing any new employee to that company and work setting. In contrast, orientation is a process in which a new employee is offered basic information about that company and rules and other workplace policies.

Here we will explain both terms in detail, and differences between induction and orientation will be clarified.

Difference between Induction and Orientation

Induction includes information as a company’s overview, policies, and organizational hierarchy. Orientation provides details like new employee’s projects, events, teams, company members, and progressions. Induction can be completed in one day.

Orientation might take several days, as per the organizational requirements of a situation. Induction is a bit more casual in comparison to orientation. An orientation program generally aims to reduce the anxiety of the new employees. Induction is the first process carried out by a company. Induction includes descriptive projects and a paper cover of a company’s instructions, worker’s assistance, and strategies, whereas orientation includes communication of the workers to many company people.

What is Induction?

Induction normally happens to warmly calm and relax a new person and prepare them for their new job. It’s one carefully organized database that will help a new worker with the co-workers and office. Term induction is generally derived from the Latin word ‘inducer’ that means ‘to pick up and introduce.’

In induction, a person gets officially admitted to an organization as a team to handle the particular post. To welcome a new worker to a company is known as induction. In short, induction is the technique of introducing the newcomer that happens when a person joins that organization.

With this procedure, the company provides him some basic description, which is important to adjust instantly, and attainable in a news organization. This helps in getting maximum efficiency in a short time. This process generally helps to make a true impression on recruits who belong to a company.

With the procedure’s help, a worker comes in terms with the organizational requirements; an appraisal will be recorded in a company’s database. The impression is about the company’s vision, standards, dreams, customs, rules, employer data, dress code, clients, followers, and many more.

Induction may include:

• Office Tour / Meet & Greet
• Welcome Booklet / Company Culture PowerPoint
• Buddy System
• ‘Welcome’ Morning Tea
• Company Swag Bag

To understand in one sentence: It is a process to greet new employees to the company and its culture.

What is Orientation?

On the other hand, Orientation is a process to rehabilitate the new hires in the organization. Orientation assimilates the team into a new workplace. It is a process to support the newcomers to get adjusted to the environment quickly and easily. Companies consume some weeks or months on an orientation of the requirements.

So, the primary focus of this process is to remove all anxiety and disturbances of the new hires. It is a reality that the new workers feel a bit disturbed or worried when they become a new part of the organization. They’re concerned about whether they will be able to perform their new responsibilities well.

It has been noted that many workers feel a bit unfit whenever they make compare themselves with other expert workers. With this process, they will get straight data about their work surrounding while introducing to other workers.

Orientation may include:

• Computer or Phone Allocation 
• Introduction on Pay Roll or Expense Process
• Travel Card Setup
• Overview Brand Style-Guide
• Company Policy Documentation like Health and Safety, Privacy, and Emergency Contacts

To understand in one sentence: Orientation is a process that will familiarize the new hires with the company policy and rules.

Comparison between induction & orientation can be understood clearly on the given grounds:

Induction – A process to welcome new employees to the organization, prepare them for their role. The process involves the assimilation of the new joinee in an organization and rehabilitate him at a new workplace, and offer basic details about the organization.

It’s a one-way procedure wherein the speaker or manager tells the joints about the company. On the other hand, orientation is the two-way procedure wherein both new joiners and managers interact and join the process.

Induction generally involves the planned introduction of an employee to the company. But, Orientation is an integration of an employee in the company.

Induction is the short term process, and orientation lasts for a longer time.

Induction can be done at an introductory stage and then followed by an orientation.

Induction is a detailed presentation and brochure of the company’s policies and rules, and employee benefits will be provided. Conversely, orientation includes the interaction of the employee with other members of the company.

Induction	Orientation
Induction involves inviting the newcomer to an organization and prepare them for their job role	Orientation which involves assimilation of the new joinee in the organization & offer basic detals about the company
It is a one-way process	It is a two-way process
Introduction of an employee with the company	Integration of an employee with the company

The Final Step

Both the induction and orientation process differ from one organisation to another, but their primary aim is to facilitate the smooth rehabilitation of an employee in a new organisation. This program builds up confidence, trust, morale, and a sense of belongingness among employees towards a company.