United States Department of Agriculture 

Agricultural Marketing Service

Directive 4410.1 1/05/04 

______________________________________________________________________________

NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION

I. PURPOSE 

This Directive: 

A. Prescribes the distribution of orientation materials to new employees. 

B. Sets forth supervisor responsibilities for new employee orientation. 

II. REPLACEMENT HIGHLIGHTS 

This Directive replaces AMS Directive 381.1, Orientation of New Employees, dated 

5/9/89. Changes are marked with asterisks. 

III. OBJECTIVES 

A. The objectives of new employee orientation are to provide employees with 

information about employment in the Federal service, and to welcome and enhance 

integration of employees into the Agency. 

B. The first impressions formed by a new employee are vivid and lasting; therefore, an 

effective orientation is crucial to the successful integration of new employees into the 

organization. *New employees are more apt to support AMS’ values and vision if 

they clearly understand the impact of their conduct and performance upon the 

successful achievement of the Agency’s mission. Employees who understand their 

role and responsibilities generally want and choose to do their best.* 

IV. DISTRIBUTION OF ORIENTATION MATERIALS 

The Program Administrative Office and the Regional Offices shall provide new 

employees with orientation materials (see Part V, A). Orientation material may be 

distributed by mail or given directly to the employee at the time he/she enters on duty. 

*Also, where feasible, new employees can be referred to the Marketing & Regulatory 

____________________________________________________________________________ 

Distribution: All AMS Offices Originating Office: C&A/AMSTI 
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Programs Business Services, New Employee Orientation website 

(http://www.aphis.usda.gov/mrpbs/new_employee_orientation.html) to access orientation 

information via the Internet.* 

V. SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES 

Supervisors are responsible for performing the following duties, preferably within the 

first week that the new employee reports for duty: 

A. Ensure the employee has a copy of "Employee Responsibilities and Conduct, 

Appendix 1" (provided by the Program Administrative Office and Regional Offices). 

B. Provide information on the following topics: 

1. Requirements of the Position. 

(a) Work schedules/tours of duty – Days and hours of work including 

lunch period, breaks, rotational assignments, etc. 

(b) Supervision – Party(ies) responsible for providing both technical and 

administrative supervision to the employee. 

(c) Mission – Functional assignment of the work unit and how it relates to 

other parts of the Program and AMS. 

(d) Position description – Nature of the employee’s assigned duties. 

(e) Work facilities – Components of the physical work environment, e.g., 

dressing rooms, parking spaces, cafeteria, health facility, etc. 

(f) Operating a government vehicle – Employee’s responsibilities as 

related to use of a government vehicle in the performance of official 

duties, guidelines for operation, and procedures for handling 

emergency situations, addressing administrative requirements, etc. 

(g) Workplace attire requirements (if any) – Wearing of designated items 

for sanitation, safety/personal protective equipment or identification 

purposes, e.g., gloves, lab coat, hair net, etc. 

(h) Identification card – Procedures for obtaining authorized workplace 

identification. 

(i) Personnel action form – Recognition and maintenance of important 

official personnel-related documents, e.g., SF-50 Notification of 

Personnel Action (when to expect them, and what to look for when 

checking for accuracy of information). 

(j) Performance plan (AD-435A) - The elements and standards on which 

the employee will be rated, and the performance period. 

2. Pay and Leave. 

(a) Time and Attendance Report – Policies, guidelines, reporting 

requirements and other procedures of the work unit. 
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(b) Salary payments – When the employee can expect to receive the first 

salary payment and the procedure to follow if it is not received within 

a specified time frame. 

(c) Leave – Types and purpose of leave, leave accrual categories, use of 

leave, procedures for requesting leave and authorizations for granting 

leave requests, procedures for notifying office if unable to report for 

work. 

 3. *Safety and Occupational Health Program. 

(a) Legislation covering Federal agency safety and occupational health 

programs – OSHA Act - Section 19; Executive Order 12196; and 29 

CFR 1910 Part 1960. 

(b) Officials responsible for AMS safety program – Designated Agency 

Safety and Health Official; Agency Safety Program Manager; and the 

Program’s Safety Representatives. 

(c) Employee’s rights and responsibilities – Employees have certain rights 

and responsibilities for a safe and healthful working environment as 

mandated by OSHA. 

(d) Reporting unsafe and/or unhealthful working conditions – How and to 

whom an unsafe/unhealthful working condition may be reported. 

(e) Accident/injury reporting – How, when, and to whom an accident, 

injury, or near miss should be reported. 

(f) Employee training - Programs shall provide appropriate safety and 

health training for employees. 

(g) Emergency procedures – Who to call and what to do in specific 

emergencies. 

(h) Emergency Occupant Plan – The written plan that delineates facility 

layout, evacuation routes, and procedures to follow in the event of an 

emergency.* 

4. Conduct, Rights and Privileges. 

(a) Employee responsibilities and conduct – *Behavior expectations for an 

AMS/Federal Government employee and the responsibilities 

associated with their position and role in the Agency.* 

(b) EEO and civil rights – Federal statutes, Department and Agency 

policies, directives, guidelines, procedures and processes, established 

to protect all employees against various acts of discrimination, 

including sexual harassment, within the hiring, employment and 

program delivery practices of AMS. 

(c) Workplace violence – Policies and procedures for dealing with 

workplace violence threats and emergencies and how to contact 

professional emergency personnel or services when needed. 

(d) Alternative dispute resolution (AR) – A confidential employeedesigned program that serves as an option to the administrative 
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grievance process and the formal complaint process, for resolving 

workplace conflicts. 

(e) Union affiliation – Right to join or refrain from joining unions and 

whether or not employee is covered by a collective bargaining 

agreement. 

(f) Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act – Purpose of these laws, 

relationship to their job and where to obtain more information on the 

subjects. 

C. Express the importance of the employee’s responsibility to read and understand all 

pertinent orientation materials, and assist the employee by clarifying AMS policies 

when questions arise. 

D. Perform the following duties upon completion of the orientation discussion: 

1. * Complete and have the new employee sign and date Form AMS-453, 

Orientation Checklist (see Attachment 1). 

2. Forward the completed form to the Program Administrative Office. 

The Program Administrative Office will forward the form to the Servicing 

Personnel Office for filing in the employee’s Official Personnel Folder. * 

/s/ 

A. J. Yates 

Administrator 

Attachment