First Impressions Count: Welcoming New Employees

Setting the right impression on the first day of work is just as important for an organisation as it is for a new employee. The higher cost of recruitment and training new staff members means that getting it right the first time will not only be more cost effective, but more time effective as well. The sooner your new employee settles into the role, the sooner yourcompany will be able to concentrate on making their investment pay off.

To welcome your newest staff member, you should concentrate on making the transition as smooth as possible, and preplan
their first few days on the job.

As a guide, you should concentrate on arranging someone to greet them at a pre-arranged time, and conduct a tour of the company. A brief introduction on health and safety issues, and company policies should also be included. Finally, they should be introduced to their team and manager.

Prior to the start date, their manager should also be briefed on what is to be covered in the introductory session. It is generally their responsibility to conduct a brief meeting to outline additional company information, and information about the employment package if this has not already been discussed. Information about performance reviews and probationary periods should also be outlined in this discussion.