How to Welcome New Employees

Dear Ms. Cards Etiquette,

Our company is planning an expansion at our main office, and we’re trying to think of a good way to welcome the new employees. Some of them are local, and some are relocating to our town. I was hoping you’d have some good ideas!

-HR Newbie

No problem, Newbie … I’ve got a handful of great ideas for you!

Throw a party! If all the new employees are being hired in a relatively short period of time (like within the same month) a welcome party would be a fun way to let everyone meet their new coworkers in a relaxed setting.
The Welcome Wagon. A lot of towns have a “Welcome Wagon” organizations which give welcome baskets to people new to town, with coupons and small gifts from local businesses. You may be able to coordinate with them to deliver baskets to your relocating employees, with “Welcome” cards signed by everyone in the office included with the basket. (Of course, you could play Welcome Wagon yourselves, and put together your own gift baskets too!)
Send cards to your local hires too. While they may not need the local resources a Welcome Wagon style gift includes, a “From All of Us” welcome card delivered to their homes, signed by the office staff, is a nice, personal way to let them know you’re glad to have them on board.
Leave a surprise on their desk. This doesn’t need to be anything fancy … maybe a new coffee mug with a “bouquet” of pens and pencils? Or a nice note pad with their name printed on each sheet? Just a little something to bring a smile to their face on the first day at the new office.

None of these ideas need to be super-extravagant, this is really one of those “thought that counts” kind of situations. Letting your new hires know you’ve gone out of your way to welcome them to their new job goes a long way towards making a good first impression!

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