Life in the diaspora: The first days – onboarding in the UK workplace
By Mary Opii
Starting a new job in the UK comes with excitement, but also with a unique set of processes and procedures that many Nigerian immigrants find unusual. Unlike back home, where one might start working immediately after being hired, the UK places a heavy emphasis on onboarding; structured introductions to the company’s policies, culture, and expectations.
Onboarding in the UK usually starts with induction sessions which may run from a week to a month. New employees are taken through the organisation’s values, code of conduct, and detailed policies. Health and safety checks are a priority, with mandatory training on fire procedures, workplace hazards, and sometimes even online modules that must be completed before proper work begins.
One striking difference for Nigerians is the sheer volume of paperwork. From contracts to tax forms, pension enrolment, and confidentiality agreements, the process is thorough. Every detail seems to require documentation, and every step is backed by compliance requirements.
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I remember sitting through hours of training and paperwork on my first UK job. I had expected to “learn on the job” as is common in Nigeria, but instead I found myself completing forms, watching safety videos, and signing acknowledgements for policies I never imagined existed. It was overwhelming at first, but later I came to appreciate the clarity it provided.
Once the formalities are complete, onboarding often includes buddy systems, mentoring, or shadowing colleagues. Employers want to ensure that new hires understand not just their role but also the company culture. Punctuality, politeness, and teamwork are highlighted, with less tolerance for improvisation compared to the Nigerian workplace.
For Nigerians in the diaspora, onboarding is more than an administrative process; it is the company’s way of saying, “This is how we do things here”. While it may feel slow or excessive at first, it ensures structure, clarity, and a smoother integration into the workplace for maximum productivity.
