An employee's initial employment date is generally understood as the date the employee begins working for the company and starts fulfilling their job duties. This is often called the "start date," which is the first day the employee can be paid, begins benefits eligibility, and officially starts the employment relationship through actual work performed. There are distinctions between related terms:
- Hire date: The date when the employee completes the new hire paperwork, which may be before the start date.
- Start date (initial employment date): The actual first day the employee starts working and can be paid.
- Date of hire vs. start date: These are sometimes the same day, but often hire date occurs before the start date when paperwork is processed prior to the initial working day.
The initial employment date is important for tracking seniority, benefits eligibility, probationary periods, and payroll. The first day of employment is typically recorded on official documents (e.g., Form I-9 in the U.S.) as the start date when the employee begins working in exchange for wages or remuneration. In summary, the employee's initial employment date is the first day they actually start work for the employer, not just the day they were hired or signed paperwork, though these dates can coincide.
