The first day of the job is overwhelming for new hires. There's so much to worry about, including simple things like knowing the way around the office and more complex concepts like understanding the company culture. 

Depending on how the day goes, new employees will either have a positive or negative attitude towards their new job.

As a business owner or supervisor, it is essential to create an environment that helps new employees feel comfortable and welcome from the very start of their tenure. This is crucial, as 89% of employees with a practical onboarding experience feel more engaged at work. 

Onboarding helps ensure new employees don't feel overwhelmed, confused, or discouraged during their first few days with your organization.

Effective communication, prior preparation, and one-on-one attention during onboarding make new hires feel welcomed and valued. Let's look at how to make new employees feel welcome and transition smoothly into their new jobs.

The Importance Of Making New Employees Feel Welcome

It is crucial that employees feel welcomed and included in the organizational community and culture, whether they work from home or in the office. 

When you welcome employees, you give them a sense of connection, security, and acceptance. This builds a strong sense of belonging and increases job satisfaction and productivity. Here are the top reasons you should make new employees feel welcome.

Retention

One in three new hires leave their jobs in the first 90 days. A poorly executed onboarding process is one of the most significant contributors to this early departure. 

Failing to give new hires adequate guidance and support during the onboarding phase makes them struggle to find footing, leading to a sense of exclusion and disconnect.

An excellent onboarding process is the foundation for an employee's journey. The first impression sets the tone and communicates what they can expect in their career with your company. 

A primary focus of effective onboarding is introducing the company culture. By immersing new hires in the values, norms, and practices that underpin your organization, you instill a sense of belonging and shared purpose from the outset. This, in turn, increases satisfaction with the new roles, resulting in higher loyalty and retention rates.

Increases Connection With Remote Employees

The surge in remote and hybrid work models, catalyzed by the pandemic, has presented fresh challenges in establishing employee connections. Supporting new remote hires with milestone gifts and tools to perform jobs better helps address these challenges.

Arranging unique meetings between new hires and management lets you introduce the company's culture and ethos. This strategy can be crucial in bridging new employees' physical disconnect in remote work settings.

Related: Remote Employee Onboarding Checklist

Promotes A Strong Company Culture

According to the SHRM 2022 Global Culture Research Report, 90% of workers who feel their company has a poor culture have considered quitting. An introduction to your company culture helps new employees understand what your company stands for and how this aligns with their values.

When designing your employee milestone program, it's essential to include moments that mirror your company's culture. For instance, if your company values employee wellness, consider including brain-boosting snacks during celebrations or meetings. 

Such a gesture not only fuels new hires as they navigate through their initial onboarding but also subtly communicates your importance on wellness.

8 Actionable Tips For Making Your New Employees Feel Welcome

Now that we've established the importance of first impressions in making new employees feel welcome, here are several tips to help you create an exceptional experience for each new team member.

1. Prepare Your Team To Welcome New Hires

There's nothing as encouraging for a new employee as finding that the team they're about to join is eager to get to know them. Letting your team know whenever a new employee joins the workplace is essential. This way, they can prepare to receive the new colleague warmly rather than be distant or aloof.

There have been instances where companies are so underprepared that team members hastily arrange essential work equipment, such as phones, cables, and other accessories, at the last minute. This disrupts everyday workflows and leaves the new hire feeling undervalued. They form a negative impression right at the outset. To avoid this:

• Inform and prepare your team before the new employee arrives to give them ample time to set up the new hire's workstation.

• Introduce new hires to their coworkers and teams to help them feel comfortable and assimilate sooner.

• Invite new employees to team collaboration spaces and apps like Slack to instill a sense of community.

• Assign a colleague to guide them on the first day.

Related: How To Welcome New Employees To The Team (Plus 24 Example Messages)

2. Give Them An Office Tour

Navigating a new office environment can often be disorienting for a fresh employee. This sense of unfamiliarity stems from not knowing anyone, uncertainty about the office organization, and lack of knowledge about the location of essential areas like restrooms or the cafeteria. 

To eliminate this initial discomfort, new hires should be given a thorough tour of the office and introduced to their colleagues.

While meeting too many new faces and learning names might be slightly overwhelming, it sets a foundation for them to feel more relaxed and accepted. It's advisable to refrain from bombarding new employees with complex tasks immediately. 

Instead, create abundant opportunities for casual interactions with the team. This approach fosters a supportive environment where they feel comfortable asking questions or seeking help, knowing they can easily approach their colleagues.

3. Introduce Them To Customers And Partners

Understanding the significance and context of their role is crucial for new employees. As part of the onboarding process, it's essential to introduce them to the internal customers and partners that they will be working with. This clarifies their role's purpose and how their everyday tasks align with the company's objectives.

Engaging in these discussions helps new hires grasp the critical accountabilities of their role. This understanding helps streamline their focus toward pertinent tasks and instills a sense of individual significance within the larger organizational framework. Such interactions pave the way for long-term success in the company and enhance commitment toward shared goals.

4. Help Them Connect Their Why To Their Purpose In The Organization

Establishing the link between a new hire's motivations ("why") and their role in the organization is a crucial aspect of the pre-boarding process. This connection lays the groundwork for solid collaboration and fosters an inclusive atmosphere.

Adopt various strategies to achieve this, starting as early as the initial interaction with their new manager. For example, a warm welcome announcement or greeting from the manager can make a big difference in setting a positive tone. 

Sharing valuable information about the company, including its values and practical tips, further helps align the new hire with the organization's culture and ethos.

5. Assign A Work Buddy

Another practical approach is pairing the recruit with a designated coworker to help them out for their first 90 days. This coworker, preferably an experienced colleague, should provide support, answer questions, and facilitate seamless integration into the workforce.

These strategies bridge the gap between the new employee's objectives and the organization's goals, fostering a sense of belonging and purpose right from the start.

6. Organize An Individualized Personalized Onboarding

Avoid using a one-size-fits-all approach during onboarding. Instead, organize individualized onboarding to show every new team member the critical role they play in your organization. 

When training new hires, leave no stone unturned. Ensure that you provide new employees with all the training they need based on their needs. Please don't leave out little details, no matter how simple they seem. Also, answer all their questions and encourage them to ask more.

7. Help Them Organize Their Work Desk

A clean, organized workspace is the first step to making a new hire feel comfortable and prepared. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure their desk is tidy and equipped with all the necessary supplies to begin their tasks. 

From basic stationery essentials to any specific tools related to their role, ensure they have everything they need. Show them where additional resources are stored should they require more.

8. Introduce Employee Welcome Kits

Many organizations now incorporate employee welcome kits into their onboarding process. These kits are valuable items that assist the new hire and make them feel valued and part of the team from day one.

An employee welcome kit can include anything from company swag to essential company information, encapsulating the ethos of your brand and team vision. 

These kits serve as an effective method to align new employees with your organization's culture and demonstrate your commitment to their well-being. This simple yet impactful gesture can significantly contribute to establishing a solid connection in the early stages of their tenure and can have long-lasting effects.

Final Thoughts

Welcoming new employees is an art that sets the tone for an individual's experience in your company and reflects your organization's ethos and culture. The extra mile you go to make new hires feel valued and appreciated cannot be underestimated.

To take your onboarding process to the next level, consider incorporating Perkup into your strategy. We are a modern platform designed to improve employee engagement and recognition. 

With over 5,000 gift options and premium swag that you can customize with your company branding, you can quickly assemble a welcome package to make your new employees feel valued right from the start!