It’s hard to be the new person in the office. New hires often feel isolated from everyone else. They don’t know how to work all the office equipment. They don’t get the inside jokes from last year’s holiday party. They might not even know where to go for lunch.
New hires don’t have to feel this way. We were all new at one point, and it’s the responsibility of the entire workplace to make new people feel welcome. HR professionals do some of the work, but existing employees also play an important role.
Let’s take a look at four onboarding processes that can make new hires feel welcome in your workplace.
1. Introduce New Hires at the End of the Week
At the beginning of the week, the team is busy and probably feeling overwhelmed themselves. Come Friday, the workplace is more relaxed. Everyone is in better moods, making Fridays the best time to introduce a new hire.
Not only will your team be more willing to spend time with the new employee, but also the person will have a more positive first impression of your team members. This way when their first official work day starts on Monday, they will have more confidence about the transition.
2. Enlist a Mentor for Each New Hire
Throwing a new employee into the workplace without a mentor is a great way to make them uneasy. There’s so much to learn and remember during this process, new hires need all the help they can get.
Since your employees might be overworked already, enlist help from specific individuals who have the time, resources and skills to provide mentorship. They should be patient, helpful and happy to answer questions.
3. Create an Employee Welcome Kit
Each new hire is an investment for your company. By providing them with an employee welcome kit, they immediately feel like a valued part of the team. Plus, it’s just plain fun to get cool stuff when so much of the new hire process is signing documents and reading through handbooks.
Your welcome kit can include anything you want: books, office supplies, business cards. Include the kit in your welcome tradition. Perhaps the new employee will receive it on their desk on their first day or during a welcome meeting.
4. Give a Team-Led Tour
All new hires need a tour of the office. However, make sure the tour is led by the team. While HR professionals can point out all the obvious stuff – bathrooms, break rooms – it’s the team members who offer the most practical information. Which copy machine works best? Which conference room is the quietest? Where are the best places to go for lunch?
Some of your new hires will become long-lasting employees of your company. By taking the time to start them on the right foot, you ease the transition and develop stronger connections between team members.