Hi Deepika. Very valid question and it happens to me a lot here too. How I have got around to addressing this is by having an earnest talk with my boss on why it is very very important that the new associates first have an induction before I can release them to run amock for their respective managers. Some of the reasons I have given are:
1 - Every associate needs to be aware of code of conduct/ salary pay days/ leave policy/ travel policy/ reimbusement policy/ mediclaim policy, etc - after all it's company policy
2 - It saves us a lot of time from explaining these nitty gritties to them later - Eg - In case of emergency travel or group health insurance, let me assure u no matter how dedicated you are to your job, a day will come when you will refuse to take calls after work hours!
You will have other instances that are unique to your work areas and I suggest you include every detail when u go and pitch yourself for this. You need to drive a bargain for your share time with new associates - because a lot of non HR people think that we have nothing to do and we do nothing to churn revenues. Tell them this is your role and you're doing your job and you want to do a good job!
Also, every time you introduce a new policy, put it up on the intranet (please demand for an intranet - it's not wise to send soft copies of the policies for the same reasons that you mentioned) and mail all or only senior associates (depending on the size of your company) to send their feedback by such and such date - incorporate all feasable changes and then mail everybody to assemble on, say, a Friday afternoon and update all on the new policy.
Girl - in this department, you just have to fight and show that you are an important part of the organization - learn to drive the organization than have others drive it. Make all rules - whether recruiment policy, mobile phone use reimbursement policy, employee grades, mobile phone use, job descriptions, etc and make sure all these policies get sanctioned by the CEO or whoever and have everybody stick to those rules! And please demand (read NAG) for an intranet... You cannot have people walking in and wasting your time for questions that can be answered by just reading the policies.
Ok - i think i got carried away - hehe - but i hope my reply helps... and DEMAND for an INTRANET...