Performance Reviews & the 90-Day Onboarding Programme

The first 90 days determine the next 3 years

Research from the Aberdeen Group shows that organisations with a structured onboarding programme experience 54% greater new-hire productivity and 50% higher retention at 3 years. The companies winning the talent war are not necessarily paying more — they're making people feel seen, supported, and set up for success from day one.

Building the 90-day onboarding checklist

Go to HR & People → Onboarding → New checklist. Create a checklist for each new joiner with tasks assigned to the right people:

Day 1 (IT + HR):

• Laptop set up with all required software
• Proactiq workspace invitation accepted
• Email account provisioned
• Statutory documents collected (PAN, Aadhaar, bank details)
• Office tour and team introductions

Week 1 (Manager):

• Role expectations and 30-day goals discussed and documented
• First project or task assigned with clear deliverable
• Key stakeholder introductions completed
• Benefits and leave policy walkthrough

Month 1 (Manager):

• 30-day check-in: How is the role matching expectations? What support is needed?
• First deliverable reviewed and feedback given
• Growth path discussion — what does success look like at 6 months?

Month 3 (HR + Manager):

• 90-day probation review (if applicable)
• Formal confirmation of employment
• Career development goals set for the next 6 months

Running performance appraisals

Go to HR & People → Appraisals → Cycles → New cycle. Define the cycle name (e.g., "Q2 2025 Review"), start and end dates, and status. Add employees to the cycle and assign ratings:

• Outstanding — Consistently exceeds all expectations. Should trigger a compensation review.
• Exceeds Expectations — Regularly goes above and beyond the role.
• Meets Expectations — Solid, reliable performance. This is the standard — not a criticism.
• Below Expectations — Improvement needed. Must trigger a documented Performance Improvement Plan (PIP).
• Unsatisfactory — Serious performance issue. Document carefully and involve legal counsel before action.