We are entering a working world where we are out of lockdown, however many of us continue to work from home. During this time, there are certain things that are still happening that have always happened, such as team catch ups, keeping up with client emails, and the addition of new colleagues.
Companies have been reassessing where new talent is needed and prospective employees are, thanks to the impact of the pandemic, looking for new roles. Therefore, it’s likely that you will be introduced to some new faces in the coming months.
But how exactly do you welcome new colleagues when you’re at home? To give you some inspiration, here are some ideas to make the newbie feel like they are part of the team.
Have a welcome call
Set up a call to introduce yourself. This doesn’t have to be a formal conversation about the processes and systems in place. This can be an informal, getting to know you, chat to help put them at ease. After all, this is a strange time for them to join a company and by finding out what their new colleagues are like over an informal video call can be the perfect ice breaker.
Send them a welcome package
Send them a kit containing the essentials. Add in anything you’d usually give to the new starters, such as pens and notepads, along with a card from their new team and something sweet, like chocolate.
Explain how to work from home
As well as explaining the company’s setup, you’ll need to talk them through how your company works from home. Each office is doing things slightly differently, from contacting each other through Teams to setting up group calls once a day. Let them know exactly how you’ve all adapted to working from home and be sure to keep them in the loop if anything changes – as the new starter, they might not know how to keep up with changing protocol.
Try a socially distanced catch up
Team drinks aren’t what they were, but it’s still possible to have a catch up in a beer garden with the new member of the company. This is another informal way to get to know them and to let them know they’re part of the crew.
Start with a project
Rather than throwing them in at the deep end, give them a chance to get to grips with the company by giving them a small project to work on. This will help them settle into their new role and give you an idea of their work rate.
Buddy up
Choose someone on the team for the new person to buddy up with. By setting them up with a mentor, they can go to them with questions and slowly establish themselves in the group.
Have you had any new starters to train up remotely recently? What have been your go-to ideas for making them feel welcome?
