Inductions before starting a new role

[invisibleflamingos]

Scenario: I agree to a new role (senior manager level) with a start date of let's say 1 May. In March-April I get multiple emails from the new org, asking me to have induction meetings (phone/Teams), have catch-ups with senior leaders, do my IT set-up, even attend a conference, all before my start date.

In my view, these tasks should happen on the start date or after. I don't mind having to submit forms, proof of ID/residence, payroll set-up, etc, but anything that seems like it falls under the realm of induction and should start when the role begins.

Is this a new thing or have I just had weird luck with my last two roles, both of which have asked me to have multiple meetings etc before my start date?

I assume this is new role at a new workplace, in which case you definitely shouldnt be doing anything before you start date. They’re not paying you!

Depends what job role it is. We have inductions before the start so we can prove your compliant to our regulators and not at risk.

eg.. If some one started and they didn’t read the P&P or completed in house training. and kept putting it off - we would be liable if something happened.

I also had this with a senior role I was offered at another organisation.
I was on three months notice but within the first month was bombarded with calls from various employees who had been given my personal number and wanted to welcome me. I was also pressured to propose dates I could come in and spend a day with the team and be involved in some other recruitment.
I actually found it really offputting, I was still employed by my current employer, been paid by them to do my reasonably stressful role at a busy time and felt that the constant contact and requests for my time before I joined them was unreasonable.
I ended up retracting my acceptance for other reasons, but if there aim in the contact through the notice period was to keep me engaged with them and enthusiastic about the job change, it was counter productive.

how senior?

I would want to hit the ground running so i’d be fine with this

In the NHS you spend 1st week of employment doing the Trust induction.
Wouldn't be let loose on anything until this has been done. But we're paid for it as it's 1st week of employment, there's no way it could be done in-depth whilst in previous job as it's full time

My roles are mid-senior. In one case, at a large org (where there were many, many levels above me) and in another case at a small org (where I was three levels from the top).

I have small children and was still working full time up to my start date, so I must say I found it pretty stressful to try to engage with meetings, coffee catch-ups, reading material, and even a conference before my start date!