Employee Onboarding & Probation Pack | Fair Work | Editable Word Templates

Most small businesses wing the first three months. You hand over a key, run a quick induction, and hope it works out. Then probation's nearly up, something isn't right, and you go looking for the paper trail, only there isn't one.

This pack fixes that. It walks you and your new starter through the whole journey, from before day one to the end of probation, with nine structured documents that keep everything clear, fair, and on the record. No HR department needed.

It's built for the way probation actually goes wrong for small businesses. The 90-day assessment makes you decide before probation lapses. The extension notice flags that it has to be issued before the end date. And it spells out the difference between a probation period and the unfair dismissal qualifying period, which is the exact thing most owners get caught out by.

What's included

• Employment Commencement Checklist — everything to have ready before and on day one
• Welcome and Expectations Letter — sets the tone and the ground rules before they start
• Induction Record with Acknowledgement — a signed record of what was covered
• Performance and Development Agreement — what good looks like in the role
• Probation Period Schedule (30/60/90 day) — the key dates, mapped out
• 30-Day Check-In Record — an early, settling-in conversation
• 60-Day Probation Review Record — the formal mid-point review
• 90-Day Probation Completion Assessment — the decision point, before probation ends
• Probation Extension Notice — if you need more time, done properly

Five design styles, your choice

Classic, Blueprint, Light, Sage, and Minimalist. Pick the look that suits your business. The Minimalist style is completely unbranded if you'd rather it carried none of our marks.

How it works

Instant download after purchase. Open in Microsoft Word, fill in your details, and you're set. The forms and agreements are locked so you can only type in the highlighted fields (the layout can't get knocked about), while the letter, checklist and induction record are fully editable, so their tick-boxes work with a click. A one-page How to Use guide shows you the order to use everything.

Perfect for

Small business owners, operations managers, and team leaders bringing on new staff who want to do it properly, from day one through to a fair, documented probation decision, without paying a consultant to build the process for them.

Frequently asked questions

Is this compliant with Australian Fair Work laws?
It's grounded in the Fair Work Act 2009 and the Fair Work Ombudsman's best practice guidance on managing probation and new employees. It gives you a fair, defensible process. It's general information, not legal advice.

Does it cover ending employment during probation?
Yes. The 90-day assessment guides the decision to pass, extend, or end probation, and reminds you that ending employment still needs the correct notice and can't be for an unlawful reason. If a situation is serious, we always suggest getting advice before you act.

What's the difference between probation and the unfair dismissal period?
A big one, and the pack explains it in plain English. Probation is a term of the contract. The minimum employment period for unfair dismissal is separate: 6 months, or 12 months in a small business. Extending probation doesn't change that.

What format are the files, and can I edit them?
Editable Microsoft Word documents (.docx). Works in Word 2016 and later, Microsoft 365, and Google Docs. Most documents let you type into the highlighted fields; a few are fully editable so tick-boxes work.

I have no HR background. Is this still for me?
That's exactly who it's for. Plain English throughout, the fields tell you what to fill in, and the How to Use guide gives you the order to run everything.

What if I need help after buying?
Email us at feedback@teamgrid.com.au and we'll point you in the right direction.

Part of the TeamGrid People Lifecycle System. Grounded in the Fair Work Act 2009 and Fair Work Ombudsman best practice guidelines. General information only, not legal advice.