Congratulations and welcome to the Home Depot RDC.

Now that the

interview and onboarding process is complete it is time to step out onto the floor
and settle into your new role. While your main task will be training in your
designated job function there are a few other formal and informal rules that
associates must follow. Listed below are some of these “orange blooded” values.
The biggest and most noticeable standard practice at Home Depot is the
dress code. All general warehouse associates must wear a Home Depot logo shirt
or any other shirt that does not contain logos. Associates must also wear jeans or
shorts; no sweatpants are allowed. Closed toed shoes also must be worn at all
times while in the warehouse. Another standard practice is the attendance policy.
Any absences, late in or leave early’s must be approved by a supervisor or
covered with sick hours. Any requests for days off must be submitted and
approved before the day of the requested shift.
Some of the informal rules that apply at the warehouse include not parking
in the designated associate of the month spot, unless you are the associate of the
month. Once inside the warehouse it may seem confusing or intimidating trying
to navigate your area. Once in your respective zone you will see every dock door
is numbered to clearly mark each zone. Always check with your supervisor to find
out what you assigned zone is for that day.
The number one place to meet and mingle with other associates is the
break room. Most associates watch tv or eat in one large room, so it is easy to
find different people to conversate with. The most important supervisor in the
building is Carlos, the IT guy. If there are any problems with equipment or
personal information, he is the man to see.
Another IT aspect to become familiar with is your associate ID number and
your LDAP. The ID number is used to clock in and out every day, while the LDAP is
used to log in to each piece of equipment during each shift.
Every month the warehouse has a meeting going over how we are doing
compared to the rest of the network. There are also awards given out for
attendance and safety. Along with the meeting every associate receives a catered
lunch from various restaurants. Each season the warehouse also hosts various
events for families of associates. Summer has a day at the lake, while winter is a
Christmas party.
One of the most common terms an associate will hear on the floor is SOP.
SOP stands for standard order practice and is the foundation of how the
warehouse runs smoothly. Following SOP’s is the clear-cut way of how each task
should be done and exactly how long it should take. Learning this term and
adopting its practices is the most effective way in succeeding at Home Depot.
Welcome to The Home Depot and I look forward to seeing you on the floor!