Cadence
Onboarding milestones
Track your first ninety days with a simple print-out, built for real South African teams and owner-managers.
Ask about cadences
When to pull out this card
Use this Cadence Card whenever you’re setting up a new hire, new supplier or apprentice, especially if you handle operations yourself. It’s for those weeks where the rush of the factory or the jump between sites makes it hard to remember if you sent the CIPC docs, got their SARS eFiling sorted, or booked that first sales training. Some folks in Gqeberha carry it folded behind their driver’s, using it to keep the team at Litha’s Fish Fry ticking along as promised. Vereeniging’s Tiling Ace uses it with every contract tiler who starts mid-month, just to keep everyone on track during the handover.
The onboarding rhythm: slots and roles
Each slot is a non-negotiable checkpoint. The card’s built around eight milestone dates. Owners assign the tasks and tick them off. Day 1, Day 7, Day 14, Day 21, Day 28, Day 45, Day 60, and Day 90. For each slot, you write the owner’s name (could be yourself or a supervisor like Mpho in payroll, or your depot lead Thandi). Start on the first day of employment or contract. It’s quick to update if your new team member misses day one because of a highveld storm or the N1 traffic.
- Day 1: Welcome, contract, collect UIF and ID copies (Owner: Operations)
- Day 7: FICA, SARS eFiling login, CIPC check (Owner: Admin)
- Day 14: PPE issued, basic training booked (Owner: Supervisor)
- Day 21: Bank details verified, EMP201 template loaded (Owner: Payroll)
- Day 28: Intro to main suppliers (Owner: Ops Manager)
- Day 45: HR induction review (Owner: HR or Owner)
- Day 60: Safety walk and COIDA checklist (Owner: Safety Rep)
- Day 90: Three-month review, B-BBEE affidavit started (Owner: Owner)
How it bends for load-shedding and holidays
South African timing isn’t always on your side. If stage 6 kicks in, or there’s an early school holiday, you don’t have to stress. Just shift the slot to the next working day. For a public holiday, roll everything forward by one working day for the whole team (make a note next to the date). Some companies in Algoa Park simply handwrite ‘Moved: Eskom’ in the margin if things go sideways. Works for municipal strikes too, or when you’re waiting for a courier delivery from Sandton.
Example: Litha’s Fish Fry (Gqeberha)
New fry cook starting in Newton Park on 3 April. Owner: Litha Dlamini. Day 1 is Litha herself. Day 7 goes to Sipho in Admin. Day 14 and 21 handled by Nomsa (Supervisor and Payroll). By Day 28, the new cook meets their main prawn supplier in Baakens Valley. Day 45, GG in HR checks in. Day 60, a quick walk-through by Musa, the Safety Rep. Day 90, Litha sits with the new team member, kicks off their B-BBEE affidavit using their favourite Invoice Charm and files a summary for the next cash calendar run. If Day 14 fell on a public holiday, they’d just shift it up without any fuss.
You can read more on common onboarding slips at our FAQ for SME starters, or see what else you can print from the cadences library. For supplier shortlists in your area, check local supplier packs. If you need a hand, just mail support. It’s alot to keep track of in busy season.
