Everyone’s experienced being the newbie, so we all know how it feels. And as a manager or team leader, you’ll be keen to make your new recruit feel at home as soon as possible.

If you’ve got a new team member due to start and are looking for ideas to welcome new staff, read on.

In this article, we’ll give you inspiration on how to welcome new staff so that their transition to a full-fledged team member is easy, seamless and fun.

Make them a welcome video

Ideas to welcome new staff can start before they set foot in the workplace. Create a welcome video with introductions from other members of staff, including a little about each person’s role.

You could also include a video tour of your work premises so finding their way around on their first day is not so daunting.

It’s a fun and friendly way to break the ice even before they even set foot in the office!

Organise their workstation

There’s nothing more frustrating than turning up on your first day in a new job to a disorganised workspace.

Start with actioning any IT access, permissions and logins that they will need to do their job.

You should also ensure that they have easy access to your work premises with a swipe card already prepared if necessary.

Ensure that their desk or workstation is set up to welcome them with any stationery, documents and equipment that they need. This means they can hit the ground running, settling into their role sooner rather than later.

Match them with a work buddy

A friendly face is the surest way to make your newbie feel like one of the team. Allocate a colleague who’s outgoing and also understands the new member’s role to be their work buddy.

They can help make introductions on the first few days and show them how to navigate the workplace, from where to find the bathrooms to tips for the best lunch deliveries.

When you choose a buddy with some background in their new colleague’s job, they can also help with the informal learning and training that come with stepping into a new role.

Take them out for a ‘first day’ lunch

When you’re looking for ways to welcome a new staff member, food is always a winner.

Make their first day as informal and pleasurable as possible by taking them out to lunch with a few colleagues. It’s a great way to break the ice and get to know each other away from the pressures of the office.

You can continue the routine on a monthly basis, using it as an unofficial one-to-one time to talk through any work issues in a relaxed environment.

Make their first team meeting fun

If you’re searching for how to make new staff feel welcome by all the team, make sure that your first get-together focuses on the fun parts of working together.

Once you’ve done the formal introductions and discussed any serious work business, it’s time for some ice breakers. Try a few from this selection:

  • Tell us a surprising fact about yourself.
  • Where would you love to travel to?
  • What’s your superpower?
  • Which six celebrities would you invite to your ultimate dinner party?
  • What was your last song on Spotify?
  • Which three items would you take to a desert island?
  • Describe your weekend in one word.
  • What’s your favourite movie and how many times have you seen it?
  • What’s your earliest memory?
  • What’s your favourite ice cream flavour?

Ensure that you have plenty of coffee, juices and tasty snacks on hand throughout the meeting to give it more of a party vibe and make your new employee feel relaxed.

Customise a coffee cup band

Some inexpensive yet thoughtful items to gift your new employee will make them feel instantly at home.

Start with a coffee cup band customised with their name. It’s a small and friendly gesture that will set them at ease as well as offer a practical item that they can use on a daily basis. These wide silicone coffee cup bands allow you to grip your coffee easily without feeling the heat.

You can also leave a basket of useful everyday items like stationery, hand sanitiser or a USB charger on their desk. Add a bowl of fruit or granola bars and a plant and they’ll feel right at home!

Make their first day memorable

Hiring and training a new member of staff can be costly and time-consuming, so don’t risk losing them by making them feel unwelcome.

Start with our ideas to welcome new staff aboard, and add any of your own to make their first day memorable for all the right reasons.

And don’t forget to check out our range of coffee cup bands, wristbands and more in our online collection. It’s always those simple gestures that mean the most!