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Take a Quick TourStarting a new job with an employer is nerve-wracking, even for the best of us. It doesn’t matter whether you’re embarking on your career or are a seasoned pro. A warm welcome from new team members makes all the difference. It calms those first-day nerves and helps new hires settle in super-fast.
And it also makes sense from a business perspective. According to Forbes, organizations with a robust onboarding process improve employee retention by 82 percent. Even better, the productivity of these new employees is boosted by 70 percent. That’s why investing in onboarding is one of the smartest HR strategies you can make.
Furthermore, employee engagement begins on day one. Onboarding is a crucial way to start building connections and loyalty with new hires, ensuring they feel part of the team from the very start.
If your onboarding process is all about paperwork, it’s time to think again. Here are 20 fun and creative ways to welcome new employees. Get the entire team involved to ensure new hires feel valued and have a positive experience from day one.
We’ve also included some ways to welcome new employees who are working remotely. Finding engaging and inclusive methods to make remote workers feel part of the team is even more critical, so be inspired by our suggestions.
Ready to get started? Let’s dive straight in with our creative ideas.
1. Welcome Email
The onboarding journey begins even before the new hire walks through the door. Set the right tone by sending a friendly welcome email in advance.
Remind the new employee of their start date and what to expect in their first week. And give them a contact person in case they have any questions.
The welcome email is your opportunity to demonstrate your company’s values and confirm that the new employee has made the right choice. Let them know you are excited to have them aboard and look forward to working with them.
2. Set Up The New Employee’s Workspace
There’s nothing worse for new hires than a mad panic on their first day as you rush around finding equipment and supplies. You want the new person to hit the ground running. So, ensure you set up the employee’s workspace in advance with office supplies and a computer ready to go.
Get existing employees involved by decorating the employee’s desk with a welcome sign, balloons, and a handwritten welcome message. This is a simple way to ensure new employees feel valued and welcomed by coworkers and the management team.
3. Create A Welcome Package
Reinforce the message with a specially prepared welcome kit. The personal touch makes all the difference, so customize welcome packs to individual new hires.
Include some branded company swag like pens, coffee cups, and business cards. The welcome kit should also have relevant company policies and an itinerary setting expectations around onboarding activities.
4. Have A Manager Greet The New Employee On Day One
First impressions really do matter. Ensure the new team member is greeted at the door by senior colleagues or representatives from the HR team. Take them on a tour of the work environment. Explain the office layout and location of various departments. Introduce the new hire to other team members and make sure everyone knows the new employee’s name.
Starting in a new position is a big deal. Make the effort this way, and employees feel appreciated. Plus, it’s the perfect way to showcase your people-centered company culture.
5. Prepare An Onboarding Checklist
There’s so much ground to cover when new employees start work that it’s easy to miss something. This can have a negative impact on the new team member’s overall experience.
An onboarding checklist ensures you tick all the boxes. It also takes the stress out of the process for you and new employees. Expectations are clear for both parties. Furthermore, a checklist sends a clear message to the new hire that you have planned and prepared for their arrival.
Check out our post, The Ultimate Employee Checklist, for tips and advice. To help you get started, we’ve also included a downloadable sample checklist. Use this to create an onboarding checklist perfect for your new employees.
6. Name Tags For Current Employees
Remember that sense of panic when you’d forgotten a colleague’s name by the afternoon of your first day? Having staff wear name tags for the first few days does away with that embarrassing problem. It also helps existing staff remember the new employee’s name.
7. Have A First-Day Party
Celebrate the arrival of the new hire with company gatherings like a group lunch, cupcakes over a shared coffee, or an after-work happy hour.
Getting everyone together for a social occasion helps break the ice. New hires meet their colleagues informally and can start building relationships. What’s more, existing staff members benefit from the opportunity to down tools and connect with coworkers, creating a solid team spirit.
8. Develop A Fun Quiz
The first day is usually a whirlwind of information and unfamiliar faces. Help new hires make sense of it all with a fun quiz. Set some questions about company policies and history and add a few questions about colleagues.
The new employee will learn relevant information in an engaging way. Furthermore, it will help the new hire feel prepared for the first week.
9. Create A Buddy System
Setting up a buddy system is a surefire way to welcome new team members. Identify a team member to guide and show the new hire the ropes. A buddy program helps employees feel more confident in their new role. They can ask their buddy questions that they may feel uncomfortable bothering their manager with.
10. Start A Mentoring Program
Mentoring takes the buddy system to the next level. A dedicated mentor guides and sponsors the new employee throughout the onboarding process. Having a senior colleague provide support builds confidence, encourages knowledge sharing, and fosters a strong sense of belonging. Unlike the formal relationship with a line manager, mentoring is often more relaxed and approachable. This gives new hires an additional point of reference for concerns, questions, or career development guidance.
11. Hold a Scavenger Hunt
A fun scavenger hunt is an excellent ice-breaking activity that also helps employees learn about the workplace. This activity introduces the new hire to their surroundings while encouraging collaboration with colleagues. New employees can be paired with existing staff to strengthen team bonding and reduce first-day nerves.
Create clues that lead to hidden items, such as a red mug, the employee handbook, or a selfie with a teammate. You could also include company swag, branded items, or trivia that highlights your company culture. This engaging approach blends fun with practical learning.
12. Set Them A Meaningful Project
While fun activities are valuable, assigning a meaningful project ensures new hires feel like a contributing member of the team from day one. Early involvement in projects, such as researching suppliers, assisting with presentations, or supporting a client proposal, shows that you trust new employees with important work.
This not only gives them a sense of accomplishment but also accelerates integration into the team. Meaningful projects help employees connect their role to the company’s bigger goals, boosting engagement and long-term success.
13. Send Them Home Early On Day One
The first day in a new job is often overwhelming, full of information, introductions, and nervous energy. Allowing new hires to leave early on day one is a thoughtful gesture that demonstrates your commitment to employee wellbeing.
It shows flexibility, reduces stress, and helps them return refreshed and motivated for their second day. Small gestures like this speak volumes about your company values and reinforce a positive first impression.
7 Ways To Welcome Remote Working New Hires
Many of the creative ideas we’ve already discussed apply equally to remote employees. A thoughtful welcome message, buddy program, or welcome package can be just as impactful for home-based staff as for those in the office.
However, welcoming remote workers requires additional effort to ensure they feel connected to company culture. With the right digital tools and creative activities, you can make sure virtual hires feel every bit as included.
Here are seven great ways to welcome employees working remotely:
1. Shout Out New Employees On Business IM
Celebrate the new hire by announcing them on internal instant messaging platforms. Encourage colleagues to add personal welcome messages to build rapport right away.
For extra impact, consider a short welcome video where team members introduce themselves. This makes the experience more personal and memorable for the new employee.
2. Lunch On Us
Everyone loves a free meal! Surprise remote employees with a lunch voucher or arrange a delivery from a local restaurant. This thoughtful gesture enhances the employee experience and makes new hires feel valued from day one.
3. Provide Virtual Tours
A virtual tour is a great way to familiarize new hires with your company environment. Walk them through the office via video, introduce colleagues, and give insights into your corporate culture. Even remote employees will feel more connected and included.
4. Host A Virtual Scavenger Hunt
Make onboarding interactive with a virtual scavenger hunt. Instead of physical objects, ask remote hires to find information on your intranet or fun facts in employee profiles. This not only encourages networking but also helps them explore your digital workplace.
5. Fun Zoom Background
Encourage new employees to share a fun Zoom background that reflects their personality. This icebreaker sparks conversation and helps colleagues connect on a personal level during online meetings.
6. Virtual Happy Hour
Arrange a relaxed virtual team event, such as a happy hour, coffee break, or online lunch. Informal gatherings allow new hires to interact with colleagues socially, strengthening team connections in a remote setting.
7. Online Meet And Greets
Set up structured virtual meet-and-greets across different departments. Don’t limit introductions to direct teammates, understanding the bigger picture of how teams collaborate helps new employees integrate faster into the organization.
Fun Ways To Welcome New Employees: It’s Over To You
Onboarding is a defining moment, it can make or break a new employee’s experience. A warm and engaging start builds long-term employee engagement and reduces costly turnover.
Use these 20 fun ideas to create a positive onboarding journey where new hires feel valued and connected from day one. The result? Stronger retention rates, reduced recruitment costs, and a happier, more engaged workforce.
About MyHub
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Discover how MyHub can transform your onboarding process. Book a free demo or start a 14-day trial today. And don’t forget to sign up for our blog for expert insights on HR and workplace trends.
FAQ Section
Why is a fun and creative welcome important for new hires?
Because it reduces first-day anxiety, fosters early engagement, improves retention by up to 82%, and significantly boosts productivity.
What are some effective in-office welcome ideas?
Examples include sending a pre-arrival welcome email, decorating their workspace, greeting them with HR or managers, hosting casual launch events, using scavenger hunts, and setting up buddy or mentoring systems.
How can remote employees be warmly welcomed?
You can send virtual shout-outs via messaging, deliver lunch, host virtual tours and scavenger hunts, use fun video call backgrounds, organize online social hours, and schedule cross-department meet-and-greets.
