How to Welcome a New Employee to the Team
Welcome messages from a boss or manager “It’s really important that an employee starts off their job knowing who their boss is and having a relationship with them,” explains Douglas. So, if you're this employee’s boss or manager, take this opportunity to introduce yourself and express your excitement to work with them. This starts off their time at the company on a positive note! Here are some examples: “Welcome to the team, Brianna! It’s been such a pleasure to get to know you over the interview process, and I’m truly looking forward to working with you. If you have any questions at all as you settle in, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Best, Rebecca.” “Congratulations on your first day! As the CEO, I want to personally welcome you to our team. We truly value your unique experience, skills, and perspective, and we’re so excited to see all the amazing things you’ll achieve in this position.” “Welcome, Jasmine! With your impressive qualifications and skills, we know you’ll make a valuable addition to our team, and we truly feel so lucky to have you. I wanted to reach out personally to let you know that I’m here to support you in whatever way you need.” “Welcome aboard, Brian! We’re so thrilled to have you on the team, and I wanted to reach out to let you know that I’m here to assist you with anything you might need as you settle into this new role.” “Congratulations on this new role! On behalf of everyone on the team, I’d like to extend a very warm welcome. I truly believe that you’re going to achieve amazing things in this position, and I wanted to personally thank you for choosing to work with us! Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help as you settle in.”
Welcome messages from a coworker or colleague Let the new employee know that you’re available to help with anything they might need. “Often, new employees will have many questions that they don’t want to trouble their boss about, and it’s important that they have another channel to get those questions answered,” explains Douglas. A welcome message is the perfect opportunity to let the new employee know that you're here to fulfill that need. “Hi, Grace! I just wanted to reach out to say that I’m so excited to work with you, and I’m here to answer any questions you might have as you’re settling in. Please feel free to reach out if you need anything!” “Welcome to the team! I’ve heard such wonderful things about you, and I’m very much looking forward to working together. If you need anything at all over the next few days, please don’t hesitate to ask!” “It was great to meet you this morning at the all-hands meeting! We’re so happy to have you on our team, and if there’s anything I can do to help you settle in, please let me know.” “Welcome aboard, Kacey! We are all so thrilled to have you on the team, and I’m here to help if you need anything. Looking forward to working together and achieving some amazing things!” Hey, Noah! Congratulations on your first day. If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I’m here to help support you in any way you might need.”
Welcome messages from the whole team or the HR department If you want the new employee to know that the whole team is excited to work with them, consider sending an office-wide email, or writing a card signed by their coworkers. This is a great way to ensure that your new hire feels welcomed and appreciated! Here are some examples: “On behalf of the whole team, we’d like to extend our warmest welcome to you on your first day. We’re so happy to have you aboard, and we can’t wait to see all the amazing things you achieve in this role. Thank you for choosing to work with us!” “Welcome to [company name]! We’re delighted to have you on our team, and we’re looking forward to getting to know you better. If there’s anything we can do to help you transition into this new role smoothly, please let us know! —The HR Department” “Congratulations on your first day, Taylor! On behalf of the HR team, I’d like to extend a warm welcome and let you know that we’re here to assist you with anything you might need as you settle in. We can’t wait to see you thrive in this new position!” “Best wishes to you on your first day! We’re all so excited to work with you, and we can’t wait to see all you achieve in your new role. Let us know if there’s anything we can do to help make this a smooth transition.”
Short & sweet welcome messages If you’re sending a welcome message to a new coworker on Slack or Microsoft Teams, it’s appropriate to keep things brief and casual. This is a great time to let them know that you’re looking forward to working with them and that you’re available to help if they have questions. “Hey, Kate! Just reaching out to say welcome, and I look forward to collaborating with you. Let me know if you need anything!” “It was great to meet you at the meeting this morning! If you need anything over the next few days, I’m available to help.” “Welcome aboard! It’s so great to have you, and I’m excited to see everything you contribute to this team.” “Welcome, Erica! We’re so lucky to have you on board, and we’re so happy you chose to join our team.” “Congrats on the new role! I hope you have a truly amazing first day.” “Welcome to the team, Jake! If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Why is it important to send a welcome message?
They show new employees that they are valued. When it comes to retaining new employees, the first few weeks are crucial. In fact, studies show that as much as 20% of staff turnover occurs within the first 45 days of employment! Welcome messages provide the perfect opportunity to let new hires know that they are appreciated and that they have a bright future at your company, which increases the odds that they’ll stay.
They give new employees a chance to ask questions. Douglas explains that a new employee will likely have a lot of questions, but they may be anxious to reach out to coworkers or managers on their own. A welcome message opens up the channel of communication so that the new employee feels comfortable asking for more information if they need it.
They help new employees make social connections at their new job. The first day at a new job can feel kind of like the first day at a new school. The new employee may feel stressed out, overwhelmed, lonely, or worried about making friends. A welcome message lets them know that they aren’t alone and sets the tone for them to develop positive relationships with coworkers. This is especially important in hybrid or remote work environments, as employees are more likely to feel less connected and engaged in these settings.
Other Ways to Make New Employees Feel Welcome
Give them a shout-out at an office-wide meeting. This is a great way to introduce the new employee to the whole team, and it’s a bit more personal than an email or Slack message. At the end of the meeting, everyone can greet the new employee personally and shake their hand, which will make them feel super welcomed and appreciated!
Give them a small welcome gift. “Another thing we do to make employees feel welcome is we give them a little present on the first day that makes them feel connected to the company and to the people at the company,” says Douglas. This could be something like a mug or water bottle with the company’s logo, office supplies they might need, or flowers or a small plant to brighten up their workspace.
Invite them to lunch. Lunch on the first day at a new job can be stressful. A new employee may feel worried about where to sit or who to talk to. To avoid any awkwardness or discomfort, extend a lunch invite to them ahead of time. “It’s important to keep in mind that your new employee will not necessarily have any social connections at the company at first,” explains Douglas. “Taking them out to lunch is a great way to make new employees feel included.”
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