Overview
We’re excited to introduce a refreshed version of the Manager Toolkit! 🥳
A powerful feature designed to help managers and buddies support new hires during the onboarding process.
The Manager Toolkit offers several improvements to enhance usability and functionality. Whether you're new to the toolkit or already familiar with it, this feature makes it easier to:
✉️ Send a personalised welcome message to your new hire
✅ Keep track of important to-do tasks
📊 Monitor your new hire’s onboarding progress
🤝 Provide ongoing support throughout their onboarding journey
Example
Imagine you're a manager or buddy welcoming a new team member. With the Manager Toolkit, you can immediately send a warm welcome message, track your tasks for their first weeks, and follow their course progress — all in one place.
This article is divided into two parts:
✶ Editor Guide: How to Set Up the Manager Toolkit (Presets) in AppicalNow
→ Access the New Manager Toolkit Settings
Go to the Editor menu.
Click on “New Manager Toolkit”.
Select “Create new manager preset”.
Give your preset a unique name to identify it easily.
→ Edit Toolkit Elements
After naming your preset, you’ll be able to configure the different components that make up the toolkit. You can personalise each section based on your onboarding needs, for example, different departments, regions and/or roles.
Below you have an explanation on what each section means and what you can configure:
👥 List of Talents
Required – cannot be disabled
This section shows managers and buddies a list of all newly hired employees assigned to them. It allows them to monitor each new hire’s onboarding progress.
This is a fixed feature and always visible in the toolkit.
✅ To-Do Items
Optional – can be enabled or disabled
Allows you to create a checklist of onboarding tasks for managers to complete for each new hire. You can:
Add tasks manually
Organise tasks by timeframes (e.g. “1 week before start,” “First day,” etc.)
Group tasks into categories
Add translations for multilingual teams
Set rules based on location, role, or other criteria
Label the tasks by their importance
This feature helps ensure managers stay on track throughout the onboarding period.
📖 Tutorial
Optional – can be enabled or disabled
This section shows a short tutorial to managers and buddies explaining how to use the Manager Toolkit. It can be turned off if not needed.
🖥️ Dashboard
Required – cannot be disabled
The Dashboard page is the first page that Managers and Buddies will see in their Manager App. You can customise the content on this page by adding the following elements:
Language Options: Choose the content language.
Dashboard Logo: Upload a logo if you want the Manager App to reflect your branding.
Dashboard Message: Add a message at the top of the dashboard page, including an image or video to greet managers and buddies when they open the app.
💡 Tips & Tricks
Optional – can be enabled or disabled
A section where managers can access useful information on how to best support new hires. You can use Appical’s default content or add your own tips, best practices, and images.
💬 Manager Introduction
Optional – can be enabled or disabled
Lets you create a default welcome message that managers can send to their new hires. Managers can either use this message or customise it.
Note: If this feature is disabled, managers won’t be able to create or send an introduction message.
→ Configure General Settings
In this section, define how the Manager App tab will appear for managers and buddies.
Example: Rename the tab to "Buddy" or "General Manager" for better clarity.
→ Set Language Preferences
Customize the default language for the toolkit preset or enable multiple language options to support multilingual teams across your organisation.
Note: When adding additional languages for your content, you must provide the correct translations for all selected languages. If translations are not provided, the content will appear in the default language. We do not translate content automatically.
→ Style the Manager App
Match the look and feel of your company by adjusting branding elements such as:
Main colour
Support colours
→ Configure Emails and Notifications
Automated emails help keep managers informed and engaged throughout the onboarding process. Here's what each email means:
Emails for your Managers & Buddies
Email Type | Description |
Invite Manager Email | Informs a manager they’ve been assigned to a new hire. |
Welcome Manager Email | Welcomes the manager after being assigned. |
Added Manager Following | Confirms when a manager starts following a new hire. |
Automated emails to help keep HR informed about any changes in the onboarding process. Here's what each email means:
Manage Notifications
Email Type | Description |
Manager Forwarded/Assigned New Hire Email | Notifies about reassigned new hires |
Manager Not Taking Action Email | Reminder when the manager hasn’t acted |
Manager Declined New Hire Email | Alert when a manager declines a new hire |
Manager Account Archived Email | Notifies when a manager’s account is archived |
→ Add Custom Email Address
You can add custom email addresses for HR or other team members who will manage notifications from the Manage Notifications section.
Instructions:
Enter each email address on a separate line.
These addresses will receive the automated manager emails and notifications.
✶ Manager App Guide: What Managers & Buddies Can Do
🏠 Dashboard Page
The Dashboard provides a high-level overview and quick access to key onboarding elements:
See at a glance:
This Week's Highlights:
Displays who is starting this week
Allows managers to send them a welcome message directly (via the Manager Introduction Message).
Shows if a new hire has submitted an essay answer. Managers can quickly navigate to the new hire’s profile to review their submissions.
Recently Assigned New Hires:
Shows the new hires assigned to the manager in the last 30 days, along with their start dates.
Enables managers to prepare for onboarding and follow up in a timely manner.
Managers can send welcoming messages directly from this section.
Quick Actions Menu:
Provides easy access to the Manager Introduction Message to review or edit it.
Tutorial can be accessed quickly from this menu.
To-Do Overview:
Track responsibilities via a structured checklist.
To-Dos can now be labeled as Optional or Mandatory.
✉️ Introduction Message
Personalise a welcome message for each new hire or create a reusable standard template.
Supports multi-language messages, allowing managers to choose the language when sending the message.
👤 My New Hires
Access a list of all new hires assigned to the Manager & Buddy. They get access to:
Adding New Hires: Managers can add new hires to themselves if this is enabled in the organisation settings.
Checklists: Managers can track their new hires’ tasks.
Course Progress: Metrics show performance changes compared to the previous week.
Responses: Access to answers from essays or input fields.
✅ To-Do List
Track responsibilities for each new hire via a structured checklist.
Helps managers stay organised and aligned with onboarding milestones.
Tasks can now be marked as Mandatory or Optional, making priorities clear.
💡 Tips & Tricks
Managers & Buddies get helpful tips and best practices on how to effectively onboard new hires.
This section can be continuously updated to support managers in their role.
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