· 7 min read
Onboarding That Sticks: Trainers, Checklists, and First-Week Wins
The first week sets expectations for the next year. Assign a named trainer, publish a checklist, and celebrate small wins so new hires feel progress—not fog.
Shadow, then solo with guardrails
Start with observation, then limited POS permissions, then full role. Add one complexity per shift—modifiers before split checks, for example.
Checklists beat memory
Open, mid, close—each with five bullets. Laminate them; update when the menu changes.
Feedback after day three
Short, specific, kind. “You nailed greet times; next focus on modifier prompts.”