7 Things Your Business Should Do to Welcome New Hires

Did you know that the Department of Labor predicted approximately 6.6 million job openings in the US in 2019?

This is an all-time high and as employers are looking for skilled candidates, approximately 45% of them will be raising the starting salaries.

This is good news on both sides – as an employee, you have plenty of job openings available and as an employer, you’ll be able to attract a plethora of new talents.

At the same time, you can also do more to accommodate new employees and make their stay a more comfortable one. You just have to learn how to properly welcome new hires. This is not difficult and it can make a great first impression on your new personnel. As you probably already know, the first impression counts a lot.

Top Things To Do To Welcome New Hires

By welcoming your hires the proper way, you will be able to establish a better relationship with your new employees right from the start. They’ll also get the idea that they are valued at appreciated from the very first day. Here’s what you can do to make that happen.

1. Give Them A Tour of the Office

This is probably one of the most important things to do. Everything is new for your fresh hires and by giving them a tour of the company, they get the chance to learn a lot in a short time.

For example, walk your hires to the kitchen and show them the amenities in there such as from where to get fresh coffee, where is the water cooler, etc. Don’t forget to mention where the bathroom is as well. It can be quite awkward for new hires to ask for bathroom directions on the first day and you save them the hassle.

You should also explore the company with your new hires, letting them know where their office is, where is the office of their superior if they have a question, etc. Lastly, the new hires should also be acquainted with emergency response planning, so they know what to do in case of an unfortunate emergency.

2. Introduce the New Hires to Their Coworkers

This is also a good move because it makes new employees feel at home. You should introduce the new hires to a few coworkers who might share the same job description with them. By doing so, the new hires know whom to go to if they have a question.

However, make sure that you don’t introduce the new hires to each company employee because this can be quite stressful. Let them get acquainted with the other people along the way.

3. Have Everything Set Up for Them

It’s recommended to prepare the office for your new hires right from the start, so they can get to work immediately. For example, have a computer and phone ready as well as a brand new office and chair. It would be great to add a notebook on the office too and other supplies they might use such as a printer, calculator, etc.

Not preparing the office space in advance will eventually make the new hires feel uneasy. They’ll eventually have to stay and look around while you make preparations for them and this is totally unprofessional.

4. Take Them Easy on the First Day

The first day at a new job is usually the most stressful one. There are so many new people and so many new things to learn. Keep this in mind and cut your new hires some slack until they get accustomed to their new job.

Ideally, you should give your new employees something to do right from the start, but those tasks should be simple. New hires are always ready to show off their skills and you should give them this opportunity.

5. Tell Your New Hires Where They Can Go For Lunch

Chances are that your new employees are new to the company location as well. They probably didn’t have time to inspect the area and look for a coffee shop, a restaurant, an ATM, etc.

Again, you can save your employees some hassle by presenting them the location at length. You can pinpoint nearby restaurants, coffee shops or even a gym, for those who want to work out during their lunch break. Best of all, take your new employees to lunch on the first day and they’ll definitely appreciate the gesture.

6. Talk With Your New Hires A Lot During the First Day

The first workday is usually filled with anxiety for most new hires. This is normal, but that anxiety must be eliminated. You can do that by encouraging your new hires to talk and ask questions whenever they feel like.

Talking with your new hires often will also make them feel valued and appreciated at the new workplace. You should do that a lot during the first day and continue this habit in the subsequent days. By doing so, your employees are more likely to remain loyal and be more productive in the long run.

7. Assign A Mentor to New Hires

Some of your new employees might be hired to do complex and important tasks. It would be ideal if you can assign a mentor to these people to help them along the way and to avoid costly mistakes.

A mentor could be an experienced colleague who has done that particular job for years. He will be able to make the new employee accommodate easier. Make it clear that the freshman should ask as many questions as possible to learn the ropes quicker. The mentor should also be an experienced and patient worker who can handle these questions.

Now It’s Time to Put These Tips into Practice

As you can see, it’s not that difficult to welcome new hires at your workplace. You just have to look at this process from the employee’s perspective and treat him/her as you would like to be treated.

If you liked this article, don’t forget to share it with your fellow business partners and friends, so they can learn a lot from this too.