5 Out-of-the-Box Ways to Welcome A New Employee On Board
You’re getting new hires on board — congratulations! Your new employees are likely stoked to join your company, feeling the first-day jitters. But the question is — how have you planned to welcome them on board?
What is your game plan? Do you ask them to go through the mundane HR process and just leave them be? Traditional employee onboarding processes can be mundane and don’t leave a great first impression, don’t you think?
It’s time to say goodbye to boring onboarding processes and embrace a fun approach. In this article, we tell you how.
Let’s dive in!
1. LEGO® of Boredom Brick by Brick
Set the ball rolling in style with personalized LEGO® sets! Ditch the generic, bland welcome kits for colourful and creative DIY building block sets. Pick from desk organisers, business card holders and more. Moreover, having the new hire’s name emblazoned over a playset is not only a cherished keepsake but will kick things up a notch in the welcoming department. You can also add your brand’s logo and insert a message.
These LEGO® sets are not just fun to build but also are cool conversation starters. Existing members are bound to pass by and check out the block creations. Buy the same set for all your employees to make it into an interesting break game — who builds the fastest?
2. Game, Set, Match!
Kick things off with a bang by ‘gamifying’ the whole onboarding experience. Organise a PlayStation party for your new hires. Team them up with existing employees to get them to bond and build trust. It also sets the ball rolling for an unofficial buddy system. Grab some PlayStation gear, divide them into teams and let the games begin!
Another idea is to organise an office scavenger hunt. Divide all employees into smaller teams and let them unravel the clues leading to a grand treasure. This is a fun way for all employees to bond with each other and unleash their competitive spirit.
Adding a prize for the winning team makes it an even more compelling competitive team-building exercise.
3. Rev Up your Team Spirit
How do you check a team’s problem-solving skills? By giving them a problem to solve, of course! We’re not talking about coding challenges or breaking a sweat with numbers. We mean an actual, real-life problem to solve.
For example, you can give them a hypothetical scenario like, ‘How do you repair your Ford Transit when it breaks down suddenly?’ Group employees into teams and ask them to work together to solve the problem.
Make it more interesting as an out-of-doors event by renting out a car repair workshop with the right tools and gear. For example, they can learn more about specific cars like the Ford Transit, and get a deeper look into Ford Transit parts and repair processes. Not only will they learn a new life skill but also embrace collaboration.
4. Bon Appetit Bash — A Tasteful Welcome
Ah, food, the ultimate icebreaker!
Food has this remarkable ability to unite people. Sharing a meal together can help forge connections, even with people you barely know.
Round up the crew to welcome the rookies into the fold. Treat them to a welcome feast — a pizza party or a late brekkie — and get to know them beyond the job titles. Plus, who can say no to free food?
Another way is to hit the happy hours at the local pub or watering hole. Unwind and bond over the happy hour specials whilst swapping life stories. Throw a karaoke night into the mix and there you have it — a recipe for a fun and eventful employee onboarding!
5. Welcome Doodle Wall — Where Every Sketch Welcomes
Jazz up a spot in the heart of your office space to welcome your rookies. Create a wall where every existing member can fill in warm wishes, quirky doodles and heartfelt messages for the new hires. It could be a simple ‘Welcome to the team!’, a limerick, an inside joke, or a quirky doodle — it is the little things that count.
This exercise not only creates a positive atmosphere for all but also fosters a sense of camaraderie all around.
In Conclusion
Starting a new job is a huge deal. At the end of the day, it’s all about making the new hires feel valued and appreciated. A little creativity (with a sprinkling of some TLC) can help make every new hire feel like a part of the family from day one.