How To Welcome A New Employee To Your Team

Making a new employee feel welcome is extremely important.

First impressions are everything and you want to make sure that your onboarding process makes the new team member comfortable right from the jump!

There’s no better way than sending them directly to work with an awesome welcoming message. Human Resources should also help create guidelines about how things will go down at each stage to ensure new hires know exactly where they fit into the organization.

“Research by the Brandon Hall Group found that organizations with a strong onboarding process improve new hire retention by 82 percent and productivity by over 70 percent.” — SaplingHR Click To Tweet

Having a new employee welcoming strategy improves the integration and retention of your new employee. You have a lot at stake in how welcoming you are towards this individual, so these recommendations can help guide your next steps.

Creating an environment where employees feel comfortable enough to thrive and navigate challenges begins by following these tactics for how to welcome a new employee to your team.

17 Ways To Welcome A New Hire To The Team

1) Send them an employee welcome kit

Courtesy of Caroo

Employee welcome kits are a great way to make new hires feel at home from their first day on the job. Kits can include everything from company-branded apparel to office supplies and snacks. Including a welcome note from the team is also a nice touch. Welcome kits show new employees that they are valued and appreciated, setting the tone for a positive and productive working relationship. Employee welcome kits can also be customized to fit the specific needs of the company or position.

For example, a tech company might include a laptop or tablet in their employee welcome kit, while a retail company might include an employee discount card. No matter what industry you’re in, employee welcome kits are a great way to make a positive first impression.

Best for: Remote or in-person new hires

Tip: Make it personal by including a welcome letter with the employee’s name, start date, and some information about the company culture; consider adding some extra goodies like company gear, gift cards, or even a free meal voucher; and keep it organized by including a list of contact names and numbers, as well as any other important information the employee will need to get started.

Check it out! Caroo’s dedicated employee welcome kit program makes it possible to upload rosters, order custom welcome kits, and manage shipping and logistics with just a few clicks!

👉 Caroo’s employee welcome kit platform

2) Start them with a project early

One of the best ways to start employee onboarding is to assign a project early on. It can be something as simple as putting together a presentation for the team or researching a new vendor. Either way, it’s a chance to encourage your new employee to take charge and get acclimated to the company and their new role. Plus, it shows that you trust them to handle important tasks from the get-go, which can build mutual trust and rapport early on.

Best for: New remote hires

Tip: Give the new employee a chance to get their feet wet and learn about the company while also working on something that is tangible and has a deadline. You can even set them up on their first day with your company’s project management tool so they can catalog their tasks in one central dashboard.

We recommend using monday.com’s free new hire project ramp up template to get employees joining your team up to speed and on the same page quickly.

Get Started With monday.com

3) Welcome them to the team over email

A new employee’s first day can be overwhelming. There’s so much to learn and remember, and it can be tough to adjust to a new environment. That’s why sending a welcome email is such a great onboarding tactic. It’s a simple way to show your team that you’re excited to have them on board and to help them feel more comfortable on their first day.

Plus, it’s a great opportunity to give them a few tips and tricks that will help them hit the ground running. So if you’re looking for a way to make your team’s first day a little bit easier, send them a welcome email. They’ll be happy you did.

Best for: Employee onboarding

Tip: To craft the perfect employee welcome email…

Make sure your employee welcome email is concise and to the point
Avoid using jargon or technical terms that may not be familiar to your new team member
Take the time to include a personal note in your employee welcome email
Make sure your employee welcome email includes information on clear next steps so you’ll help your new team member hit the ground running
Pair your welcome email with a dedicated welcome gift or gift card

4) Introduce them to relevant Slack Channels

Welcome, new employee! Let them know you’re excited to have them on board by introducing them to your Slack channels. Show them the #general channel and encourage them to share more about themselves on it. Give them a guided tour through the list of channels and let them choose a few that seem interesting or relevant to their work.

Lastly, chat away! And of course, let them know not to be afraid to ask questions and if they’re not sure where to find something or they need help with something, have them ask in #general and a team member will be happy to assist them.

Best for: Employee collaboration

Tip: Encourage new employees to familiarize themselves with the different channels. Each channel has a specific purpose, so take some time to explore what each one is used for. Create an inclusive, positive company culture so they feel safe to participate in conversations.

Making an employee announcement helps tell your team that you want to welcome the new hire with open arms. We recommend checking out Bonusly – a leading employee recognition platform – as a great way to incorporate new employees and shout them out on their first day!

Courtesy of Bonusly

5) Plan an onboarding activity or game

Welcome aboard! A new employee’s first day on the job can be a bit daunting, so it’s important to make them feel welcome and comfortable. One way to do this is through an onboarding activity or game. This can help break the ice and get everyone acquainted with each other. There are a few things to keep in mind when planning an employee welcome activity.

First, it should be something that everyone can participate in regardless of age, ability, or experience level. Second, it should be fun and engaging. And finally, it should be something that ties into your company culture or values. With these guidelines in mind, you’re sure to come up with an employee welcome activity that will be a hit!

Best for: Team bonding

Tip: One way to ease employees into the company on their first day and help your employees feel welcome is to plan an onboarding activity or game. This can be something as simple as a scavenger hunt to help them familiarize themselves with the office, or a trivia game about your company history.

The key is to make it fun and interactive so that your employees enjoy themselves while they’re learning. By taking the time to plan an engaging onboarding activity, you’ll set your new hires up for success from their first day on the job.

Check out:

- 🔐 Online escape room
- 🧠 Trivia quiz
- 💼 Social Shuffle
- 📺 Coworker Feud
- 🤞 Two Truths & A Lie

6) Set them up with your company’s recognition program

Courtesy of Nectar

Get your new hires involved in your company’s recognition program from day one. That way, they can start feeling appreciated and motivated right from the start. There are a few different ways you can go about this. You can make sure that your recognition program is part of the employee onboarding process from the very beginning. Or you can wait a few weeks or even months to introduce it.

Whichever approach you choose, just make sure that you’re setting your new hires up for success by getting them everything they need to understand how to receive recognition for their hard work!.

Best for: In-person or remote new hires

Tip: Here are a few tips to make familiarizing new hires with your employee recognition program easy and fun!

Step 1️⃣ – Be sure to clearly explain the recognition program to the new hire.

Step 2️⃣ – Set up a system for tracking progress (like Nectar).

Step 3️⃣ – Make sure to celebrate successes along the way!

7) Provide necessary materials on their first day

Imagine this: you’re a new employee on your first day of work. You walk into the office and are immediately bombarded with questions from your co-workers. “Where’d you go to school?”, “What’s your favorite TV show?”, “How do you like your coffee?”. And just when you thought you could take a breath, your boss walks in and hands you a huge stack of paperwork to fill out.

The last thing you want to do on your first day is fill out tedious forms, but unfortunately, it’s a necessary part of the new job. To make the process as painless as possible, be sure to have all the necessary materials on hand. This includes pens, paper, stapler, staples, and anything else your employee might need to get started. By providing everything they need, you can help them feel welcome and ease them into their new role.

Best for: In-person new hires

Tip: There’s nothing like starting a new job. It’s an opportunity to prove yourself, learn new things, and make a fresh start. But before you can get started, you need to make sure you have everything you need.

➣ Here are some tips for providing the necessary materials for your employees’ first day!

1. Make a list of what your employee will need
2. Get everything ready in advance
3. Take care to package everything in an attractive way
4. Double-check that you provide them with necessary items including:

- - Signed documents
  - Parking passes
  - Swipe pass for building
  - Seats/log-ins for software
  - Email account information

Watch out! If your company is on the smaller side, you can work with a dedicated HR service like Bambee that will help manage crucial aspects of the employee onboarding process. That way, you can focus on other important tasks to complete in their first few days such as company introductions and training activities.

8) Provide structure to training

Employee onboarding is the process of providing structure and guidance to new employee training. It can be helpful to create an employee onboarding program that covers all the important aspects of the job, from the company culture to the specific tasks they will be responsible for.

By taking the time to develop a comprehensive employee onboarding program, you can help ensure that your new employees are well-prepared for their roles within the company. Not only will this help them hit the ground running, but it can also help to increase employee retention rates in the long run. So if you’re looking to get the most out of your new hires, don’t forget about new employee training!

Best for: New hire training

Tip: Here are a few tips to help you create a successful employee onboarding program: define the goals of the onboarding process; have a plan of what they will be doing each day; include a mix of classroom instruction and on-the-job training will help them master both sides of the equation; and ask for feedback during and after the onboarding process.

9) Take them out to a team lunch or coffee to get to know them

A great way to onboard new employees is to take them out to lunch or coffee. This is a chance for them to get to know their new colleagues and learn more about the company culture. It’s also a great opportunity to build rapport and create a strong team bond. When taking new employees out to lunch or coffee, be sure to choose a place that is comfortable and relaxed.

This will help put everyone at ease and make the conversation flow more easily. And don’t forget to order something delicious! A good meal can often make all the difference in creating a positive first impression.

Best for: New hire onboarding

Tip: Choose a relaxed setting where everyone can chat and get to know each other! You can also order a variety of different food and drink items so there’s something for everyone. Plus, to encourage conversation you can ask open-ended questions to the group. Lastly, avoid talking shop too much — this is an opportunity to get to know your employee as a person, not just as a colleague. Asking them about their favorite food, hobbies, or anything else that comes to mind will help you get to know them better.

10) Provide benefits information along with company rules and values

Another important aspect of employee onboarding is providing benefits information. This includes explaining the company’s health insurance plan, 401k, and other employee benefits. It is also important to provide new employees with information about the company’s rules and values. This helps to ensure that they understand the expectations of their job and how they can contribute to the company’s success.

By providing new employees with this important information, you can help them feel more comfortable and confident in their new roles.

Best for: New remote hires

Tip: Here are a few tips to make the most of this opportunity: provide new hires with a document or folder that contains all of the information they need; make sure you or someone from the HR team is available to answer any questions new hires may have about their benefits, and help new employees understand how important it is to enroll in benefits like health insurance and retirement savings plans.

11) Assign them a question guru for their first month

A question guru is someone who is assigned to new hires during their first month to help with employee onboarding. This person is responsible for answering any questions the new hire has about the company, their job, or anything else related to their work. The question guru also acts as a mentor, providing guidance and advice to the new hire as they adjust to their new role.

This system can be beneficial for both the new hire and the company, as it helps to ensure that the employee is getting all the information they need to be successful in their new position. It can also help to build a strong relationship between the employee and the company, as the mentor can act as a trusted advisor.

Best for: Building company culture

Tip: Assigning a “question guru” to new hires during their first month is an effective way to help them acclimate to the company culture and become more comfortable asking questions. The employee onboarding process can be overwhelming, and it’s easy for newbies to feel like they need to have all the answers.

But that’s not how companies thrive – it’s by encouraging employee collaboration and open communication. By designating a mentor who can answer any questions (no matter how trivial they may seem), you’re setting your new hires up for success and making them feel like part of the team from day one. Plus, it’s a fun way to help break the ice and foster camaraderie among employees.

12) Make up their workspace

When it comes to employee onboarding, one of the most important things you can do is make sure their workspace is set up and ready to go. This sends a clear message that you’re excited to have them on board and are invested in their success. So what goes into setting up a new employee’s workspace? First, you’ll want to make sure they have all the essential supplies they need to do their job, like a computer, printer, and phone. Then, you’ll want to add some personal touches to help them feel at home, like photos and plants.

Finally, don’t forget to include any company materials they might need, like an employee handbook or company calendar. By taking the time to set up their workspace thoughtfully, you’ll send a strong signal that you’re committed to helping them succeed.

Best for: In-person new hires and commuters

Tip: First, make sure that the furniture is comfortable and that the workstation is set up in a way that promotes good posture. Next, take into account your employee’s individual preferences and finally, stock the desk with pens, paper, and other supplies, and hang inspiring artwork on the walls. You can even provide a new employee stipend to upgrade their workstation with quality items and materials.

13) Send them home early on their first day

Sending new hires home early on their first day might seem like a counterintuitive way to employee onboarding, but it can actually be a great way to ease them into the workplace. It can be overwhelming for someone to start a new job, especially so if they’re not used to the corporate environment. By letting them leave early on their first day, you give them a chance to ease into their new surroundings and get acclimated to the workplace at their own pace.

Additionally, it shows that you’re flexible and willing to accommodate your employees’ needs. Ultimately, sending new hires home early on their first day is a small gesture that can go a long way in making them feel welcomed and comfortable in their new position.

Best for: New hire mental health and well-being

Tip: One tip for sending new hires home early on their first day is to provide them with a list of things to do before they leave. This could include reading the employee handbook, meeting with their supervisor, or touring the facility. Providing new hires with a list of things to do will help them feel more prepared and less overwhelmed on their first day.

14) Give them a tour of the office

A tour of the office is a great way to help new hires feel welcome and comfortable in their new surroundings. It can also be a helpful way to introduce them to the company culture and values during the employee onboarding process.

Best for: In-office new hires

Tip: Throughout the tour, be sure to point out any important areas, such as the break room, restrooms, and exits. You can also use this opportunity to introduce them to some of their coworkers. Make sure to answer any questions they may have about the office or their job. By the end of the tour, they should feel like they know their way around and are ready to start their first day.

15) Provide them with snacks!

As any HR professional knows, employee onboarding is essential for setting new hires up for success. A key part of the onboarding process is providing employees with snacks. Not only does this help to keep their energy levels up, but it also helps to create a sense of camaraderie and goodwill.

Snacks also help to boost brainpower, making it easier for new hires to absorb all of the information they need to know. As a result, providing new hires with snacks is a simple but effective way to improve the employee onboarding experience.

Best for: In-person new hires and commuters

Tip: Here are a few tips for providing new hires with snacks: make sure to have a variety of snacks available so that everyone can find something they like:

Work with an office snack delivery service like SnackNation
Put out some healthy snacks like fruit or nuts as well as some less-healthy options like cookies or candy
Consider offering both sweet and savory options
If you have any employees with dietary restrictions, be sure to have some suitable snacks on hand.

16) Review the company’s breakdown

Breaking things down into bite-sized chunks is essential, especially when it comes to employee onboarding. A great way to do this is by taking a look at the company’s org chart. This will help the new hire understand how the company is structured and who reports to whom. It can also help determine which departments are responsible for what tasks.

By having a clear understanding of the company’s organizational structure, you can make sure that employee onboarding is a smooth and efficient process.

Best for: New hire long-term success

Tip: By understanding how the company is structured, employees can identify any areas that may need improvement. Additionally, the org chart can help to create a sense of unity within the company. By understanding the roles and responsibilities of each department, employees can work together more effectively to achieve the company’s goals.

17) Introduce them to the organization on LinkedIn

Employee onboarding is an essential part of introducing new hires to the organization. LinkedIn can be a great way to connect new employees with the rest of the company. By creating a group or page for new hires, you can provide them with a space to introduce themselves and get to know their colleagues.

You can also use LinkedIn to share important information about the company, such as employee handbooks and company policies. In addition, LinkedIn can be a valuable resource for networking and building relationships within the organization. By taking advantage of LinkedIn’s features, you can help make the transition to a new job smoother and more enjoyable for new employees.

Best for: Remote and in-person new hires

Tip: Here are a few tips to make sure your employee onboarding process goes smoothly on LinkedIn: make sure each new hire has a complete and updated LinkedIn profile. This will help other employees quickly find and connect with them; create a welcome post on your company’s LinkedIn page, introducing the new employee to the rest of the organization; and encourage other employees to connect with the new hire on LinkedIn.

How To Welcome A New Employee To Your Team In 2024