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What to Expect: The Complete Guide to Lowes New Employee Orientation

Congratulations on your new position with Lowes! Joining the ranks of over 25,000 new hires this year, you likely have questions about what to expect for your orientation and onboarding. This comprehensive 2,700 word guide will walk you through everything you need to know to ace your first days as a Lowes employee.

What is Lowes Orientation?

Lowes orientation is a training program that all new employees must complete before starting work. It consists of an induction to the store and its operations through videos, store tours, paperwork, and introductions to managers.

Orientation lays the groundwork to prepare you for success in your specific department and role. It‘s the first step in an ongoing training process to equip Lowes workers with the product knowledge and skills to better serve customers.

With over 300,000 employees and growing, Lowes dedicates over 8.6 million hours each year to employee training and development initiatives. Orientation kickstarts new retail careers with the tools and connections for effective customer service.

How Long Does Lowes Orientation Last?

Most Lowes locations run orientation over one to two days. In some cases, it may be condensed into a single 8 hour session or split into separate 4-6 hour days depending on staff availability.

Regardless of the schedule, be prepared to spend the full workday (or days) at the store immersed in presentations, tours, videos, and paperwork critical for new hires. I recommend packing a lunch, snacks, and whatever else you need to stay energized and focused.

  • Lowes Orientation Length: 1-2 days
  • Hours Per Session: 4-8 hours
  • Total Training Time: 8-16 hours

By comparison, other big box retailers dedicate similar timeslots for integrating new hires:

  • Home Depot Orientation: 4-8 hours
  • Walmart Orientation: 8 hours
  • Target Orientation: 8 hours

Lowes invests substantial shop floor hours into orientation and onboarding based on retail research showing…

Effective employee training programs result in:

  • 16% higher profit margins
  • 218% higher income per employee
  • 240% higher stock prices

With quality orientation driving those metrics, its no wonder Lowes pulls out all the stops early on in employees‘ careers.

Will I Get Paid for Orientation?

Yes, Lowes pays hourly wages for all time spent in orientation and training. As an investment in developing knowledgeable employees that drives sales, the company recognizes training as integral to the job.

You can expect orientation and subsequent training sessions to fall within your normal work schedule. Make sure to record and submit these hours accurately in the employee portal to ensure proper pay.

What Can I Expect at My Lowes Orientation?

Your Lowes orientation will include:

Store Tour

Onboarding often starts by familiarizing you with the layout of your assigned store. You‘ll tour the sales floor to learn the various departments and where to find products, locate fire exits and alarms, and meet department supervisors.

As a former retail store manager, I always believed starting with the store tour set the tone for new hires. Seeing the swords, bricks, lumber, and appliances you‘ll soon be recommending makes it all more real.

Pay attention to where customer help desks are positioned and shadow a floor employee assisting shoppers. Visualizing yourself in their shoes helps transport videos and policies into tangible skills.

Paperwork

After the tour, you‘ll fill out employment eligibility paperwork and tax forms required for payroll and HR purposes. This includes your Form I-9, W-4 allowances, and direct deposit information critical for processing that first paycheck.

You‘ll also submit emergency contacts and permissions related to shifts, overtime eligiblity, and availability scheduling.

I recommend having your social security card, state ID, and bank account numbers handy here to complete necessary profiles.

Training Videos

The bulk of orientation involves training videos totaling 2-8 hours depending on your position. Videos come in modules with quizzes to progress markers helping track course completion.

Standard video packages introduce company guidelines, resources, and conduct covering:

  • Lowes History and Visions
  • Sexual Harrassment Policies
  • Safety and Lifting Techniques
  • Data and Cybersecurity
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • Loss Prevention Procedures

Role-specific videos build the bricks-and-mortar knowledge key for interacting with customers:

  • Department Inventory and Brands
  • Special Ordering and Installations
  • In-Store Pickup and Returns
  • Credit Applications
  • Product Guides and Trends

As an overwhelmed new hire at my first retail job years ago, I wished I fully utilized those initial info dump training sessions. Yes the videos feel tedious, but cementing that baseline now prevents painful mistakes down the line!

Manager Meeting

At some point, the store or department manager will introduce themselves, share expectations, and answer initial questions about scheduling and responsibilities.

This time is key to build rapport with leadership and colleagues supporting your onboarding. As a shy new associate I regret not speaking up more with peers and superiors beyond the superficial.

Don‘t be afraid to ask about team events/outings or shadowing opportunities. Having points of contact you relate to improves satisfaction and retention.

What Should I Wear and Bring to Orientation?

Lowes does enforce a company dress code even for initial training. Plan to wear the following attire:

  • Collared Shirt: Polo or casual button-down work shirt
  • Pants: Khaki or cargo pants
  • Shoes: Close-toed sneakers or boots

Avoid t-shirts with visible logos as well as shorts, open-toed shoes, or hats.

You‘ll also need to bring:

  • Photo ID: Driver‘s license or other government-issued ID
  • Social Security Card
  • Direct deposit information
  • Lunch/snacks
  • Paper and pen (for notes)

Having these items ready will allow payroll to process your information and expedite your first paycheck after starting work.

When Will I Start Working After Orientation?

Lowes schedules an additional dedicated onboarding shift up to two weeks after orientation. This hands-on practical training session equips you with floor experience shadowing veteran employees.

Expect to begin regular duties on the sales floor or your department shortly after, generally within your first two weeks. Scheduling depends on store leadership, so don‘t hesitate to inquire with HR or your manager.

Does Lowes Have a Probationary Period for New Employees?

Yes, Lowes enforces a 90 day probationary period for all new hires. This gives management time to evaluate performance before approving raises.

After this period, full-time staff gain access to the full suite of Lowes benefits like:

Benefit Type Offerings
Medical 4 major medical plans from UHC and Kaiser
Dental 2 comprehensive dental plans from Metlife
Vision VSP vision coverage plan
Retirement 401K plan with 100% match up to 3.5% of salary
Insurance Short + long term disability, life, accident coverage plans
Time Off Paid vacation days, holiday pay, parental leave

Part-time employees also unlock holiday pay and other perks after 90 days with satisfactory marks.

Use this probation window to complete all assigned training, certifications, and prove yourself ready for more responsibility. With hard work and dedication to customers, you‘ll pass the 3 month evaluation for pay bumps and leadership opportunities.

Key Takeaways for a Successful Lowes Orientation

Preparing adequately for your first days as a Lowes employee ensures you start on the best foot. Keep these tips in mind:

  • Arrive early with all required documentation and ID
  • Dress professionally according to the company dress code
  • Complete all videos, papers, and activities on time
  • Make the most of store tour time familiarizing yourself
  • Introduce yourself and build connections with leadership/teams
  • Take notes and review materials to retain information
  • Log hours accurately to guarantee orientation pay

With focus and dedication during onboarding, you‘ll pick up the skills and knowledge to excel serving shoppers at Lowes. Welcome to the team!