The butterflies-in-the-stomach syndrome is common to most people when they join new workplaces. There are mixed feelings – from being edgy and jittery to feeling motivated and hopeful. The new employee has a lot of things to do. He has to go through the HR handbooks, get to know the company culture, meet co-workers, attend orientation classes, and do stuff to impress superiors. There is a veritable maze of things that really begets butterflies in the stomach. The notion of being unfamiliar with co-workers, working procedures and the environment, and a vague idea about the company’s expectations from him adds to the anxiety. This does not augur well either for the company or the new employee. It befalls on management to welcome new employee in the right way so that he can get over the jitters and become a thriving part of the organization.
Onboarding is a serious business since it helps new entrants get over the stress that builds up in them. Funny ways can really help beat the blues and mingle with the environment and co-workers.
Here are 5 fun ways to welcome new employees in your office.
Lunch Roulette Can Be Effective
There are companies that encourage Lunch Roulettes. It is a sort-of new employee introduction where random employees are chosen to go for lunch together. A company paid lunch that helps the new employee gel well with others can not only be funny, but a very effective way to team up. Long conversations during lunch can help colleagues get to know each other and become conversant with each other’s work, procedure of work and other bits that matter. It’s a great way to onboard new employees.
Go Back to School
There are some organizations where a new hire may have to spend the first few weeks or even months learning the ropes. This is why companies like Zappos, Facebook, etc. welcome newcomers with in-depth, modulated training programs. Such programmes are designed to gear up new employees into the culture, the process and the technology in vogue.
Send Them on a Scavenger Hunt
The ice between colleagues and the new employee needs to be broken. What about ice-breaking activity like a scavenger hunt? It can be a fun way to force new employees to get introduced with others and take their help with clues during the event. If there are several new employees onboard, pair them off to go on a scavenger hunt and encourage bonding and stress reduction.
Organize a Party
Parties can be one of the best places to meet and get introduced to others. Throw a party in honor of the new employee and solve the problem of onboarding. Long party times can really help the new employee gel with others and come up with a good bonding.
Assign Them A Company Mentor
A mentor has a significant role in onboarding. He or she is the one who can make the new employee feel at ease and get accustomed to all the new stuff that he has to learn. It is even better to involve the existing staff in the process of mentorship and assimilating new employees. Mentors and rookie systems have been productive for many companies.
These are some of the fun ways to welcome new employees in office that will help employers to create a better environment between existing and new workers. It also helps new hires feel excited about their position.
