Buddy Program – Assigned as a Buddy
What you need to know
Congratulations on being selected as a Buddy for a new employee at Sandia. Your role is crucial in helping them integrate into our workforce and culture. Below outlines your responsibilities, the importance of being a Buddy, and a timeline of actions to support the new employee in their first three months.
Watch a short video that explains the Buddy Program and benefits of being a Buddy.
Information provided to the new employee about the Buddy Program is also available on the New Employee Hub.
What is a Buddy?
A Buddy is a respected Sandian who partners with a new employee during their first three months. You will provide a single point-of-contact for questions, insights about unwritten rules, and connections with colleagues. Your support will help the new employee integrate into Sandia’s culture and work environment.
A Buddy is not a manager or mentor. Your role is to support onboarding, not to provide performance feedback or career coaching.
- Supports the onboarding journey during the first three months of employment
- Point-of-contact for basic questions
- Provide insights about unwritten rules
- Make connections with new colleagues and friends
- Knowledge transfer
- Integrates the employee into the culture, social, and professional work environment
- Supports the personal an professional development of an employee during an ongoing period of time
- Provides constructive feedback to the employee about strengths and development opportunities
- Helps establish professional goals in alignment with a career plan
- Coaches the employee on effective problem-solving techniques and leadership skills
*Visit the Mentoring site to learn more.
- Responsible for job performance and related inquiries
- Addresses the questions regarding Sandia policy and guidelines
- Resolution of relevant issues
- Much more
Importance of a Buddy
- Help navigate unwritten rules and policies
- Introduce the new employee to colleagues and resources
- Reduce anxiety and confusion during their transition
- Foster friendships that enhance workplace engagement
Additional Buddy Talking Points
- Utilize segmented resources for specific job roles and transitions
- Share information about corporate training and the TEDs Everyone learning management system
- Offer site tours for onsite employees or virtual tours for remote workers
- Guide new employees on connecting to the Sandia network and commuting logistics
Buddy Engagement Timeline
Below is a proposed timeline of activities over the next 3 months to help navigate the Buddy relationship.
Contact the new employee to provide a warm welcome and confirm their readiness to start. If you lack contact information, consult the department manager.
- Meet the new employee on their first day to answer initial questions
- Introduce them to your team and provide insights about the work environment
- Establish a meeting schedule for regular check-ins
- Provide an overview of Sandia’s internal resources, including the organizational structure and useful tools
- Discuss local attractions and social activities
- Share tips and insights about Sandia’s culture and unwritten rules
- Introduce the Laboratories Policy System (LPS) and the Sandian Dictionary for navigating acronyms
- Encourage participation in Employee Resources Group (ERGs)
- Share information about community resources like SERP and LLESA
- Visit a Sandia Energy Hub to promote well-being
- Schedule a lunch to foster connection
- Introduce the Technical Library for research resources
- Attend tours or speak series to engage with Sandia’s work
- Discuss Community Involvement and participation in Sandia Gives
- Explain the differences between government contracting and industry roles
- Review Sandia’s organizational structure and introduce the Mentoring program for future development
