A new employee’s first day of work can be extremely important. It leads to first impressions of the organization and their coworkers, which helps the new employee decide if and how long they want to stay with the organization.
As HR personnel who have already invested time, money, and effort into recruiting the new employee, it is crucial that you ensure the comfort and motivation of the new employee on their first day. Here are some tips that can help make new employees comfortable at workplace:
Introduce Them to All Relevant Coworkers
Being in a new space can be uncomfortable. Employees don’t know who to go to if they have an issue, how they can order their lunch, where the restrooms are, etc. Socially anxious or awkward individuals may have difficulty asking for these basics too.
Therefore, new employees must be not only greeted by and introduced to their team members but are also informed about the basics mentioned above. To fully make new employees comfortable at the workplace, introduce them to the security guard at the building entrance, receptionist at the office entrance, office cafeteria management, HR personnel, and administration personnel.
In short, introduce the new employee to everyone they might interact with within their day-to-day life at the workplace. If the organization is small, introducing the new employee to all the employees may also prove helpful.
Provide Them with a Welcome Kit
A welcome kit can greatly improve the first day of any new employee. It sends the message that the organization was waiting for them to join and is ready for them to contribute their skills.
A welcome kit can contain an employee handbook, a coffee mug, a coaster, a pair of new headphones, and desk supplies such as post-its, pens, notebooks, stapler, scissors, file folder, storage box, etc. These supplies can help the employee feel taken care of for all their work needs.
Organize Some Team Building Activities
A couple of team-building activities scheduled for the day the new employee joins can greatly make new employees comfortable at the workplace. Team building activities can help break the ice between new employees and their coworkers.
Moreover, the activities can also help them get used to contributing and speaking their mind among a new set of colleagues. The other team members will also get a chance to get to know their team members in a more casual setting, leading to making acquaintances or even beginning work friendships.
Inform Them of Flexibilities at the Workplace
Company values and culture can be more efficiently communicated through the employee handbook. However, every workplace has some flexibility that benefits employees.
New employees may stay unaware of these flexibilities until someone informs them, or they accidentally figure them out. But informing the new employees of these flexibilities in their initial days can greatly help improve their perception of the workplace.
The flexibilities can range from taking lunch breaks as needed, 15 minutes leniency in attendance machines, etc.
Finally, one bonus tip that can significantly make new employees comfortable at the workplace is a casual meeting with the company bosses. Employees can feel a lot more comfortable once they know and have met the people they work for.
