Onboard for the New Year

Written by: Michele O'Donnell, M.S. Human Resources Management

Many employers hold off on hiring during the busy holiday season, which results in many new hires beginning in January. This is the perfect time to revisit your company’s On-Boarding practices and ensure they meet your objectives. Properly welcoming new hires to your organization goes a long way towards making them feel part of the team, and ensuring they made a good decision in joining your workplace. In addition, the management of new hires during their first weeks in the company may determine how successfully they are retained for long term employment. As an employer, it is important to make a good first impression when employment begins; an employee that feels that their company cares about them will contribute on a higher level to the organization. Below are some suggestions on how to welcome a new hire into your organization.

1. Prepare, Prepare, Prepare: Prior to the employee’s first day, make sure to have everything ready to welcome them by doing the following:
   • Send an e-mail to all staff letting a new member is joining the team and what position they will be holding.
   • Get the employee’s work station ready with all equipment, access and supplies that will be needed.
   • Assemble something with a personal touch, maybe a plant on the employee’s desk or a welcome basket with company branded items, such as pens, coffee mug, post-it notes or other similar items.
   • Assign a mentor or “work buddy” to assist with the more detailed training specific to the job once the general New Hire Orientation has been completed.
2. Be Available: Whoever is performing the New Hire Orientation should be ready and able to greet the new employee as they arrive on their first day. Activities that should happen soon after arrival are:

• • A tour of the building to include the location of restroom(s), break room(s), lunch room(s) and entrances/exits to the building.
  • Introductions to all staff, especially those in the same department/team with a brief explanation of their title and responsibilities.
  • Show the new employee their workstation and things such as, where to hang their coat, where the water cooler or the refrigerator is located, where the copy room is, etc.

3.  Orientation: It is important to ensure your newest team member has a good understanding of the company, its mission and how they fit in the picture. A thorough orientation would include:

• • Company history and mission
  • Job description with company expectations of performance
  • Review of the offer letter and company benefits (make sure to ask if there any questions regarding this information)
  • Providing items such as the Employee Handbook and other training materials that all employees must review
  • Completing all Human Resources paperwork required for new hires
  • Introducing the New Hire to the Owner or CEO

4. Being Useful: Have some tasks ready that the new hire can complete in their first few days so they feel like they are making a contribution as soon as they can. There is nothing worse than feeling not needed, and this will allow them to feel like part of the team right away.

5. Welcome Lunch: This is a nice, warm way to welcome someone into the organization. It also provides an opportunity to learn a bit more about them in a non-work setting.

6. Check In: Regularly check in with the employee to see how things are going, or if they have any questions. This will give you a sense of how they are acclimating to the organization.