How to Write a Welcome Message For A New Employee

An employee welcome message is a greeting shared by the company, the manager, or the team with a new employee. Such messages serve several purposes: making sure the new hire feels valued, providing essential information about what to expect on their first day, and introducing them to the company’s culture.

According to a Sapling HR survey, a poor onboarding experience can result in new hires being twice as likely to look for another job elsewhere. This means leaders have one true chance to win over new hires and they must be careful not to waste it.

Every employee loves to feel welcomed and respected, and if an organization can create a feeling of openness and warmth for new employees on their first day they will be motivated to work hard and be productive right from the get-go.

Thankfully, even a few simple sentences are enough to make the new hires feel that their employers are enthusiastic about working with them.

Why are welcome messages important?

Entering a new workplace for the first time can be a daunting and unnerving experience for many people. Well-thought-out and considerate welcome wishes can work in reducing first-day jitters and anxiety.

Employers should focus on putting together a message that makes individuals feel reassured and that the company is happy and appreciative to have them and their skillset joining the team. A genuine, thoughtful welcome greeting is the starting point of a long and prosperous relationship between a company and its employees.

Employee welcome messages are important when it comes to:

• Commitment - making an employee feel welcome at their new company can do wonders in encouraging them to stick around.
• Motivation - When a worker feels properly welcomed and acknowledged by an organization it will be a motivator for them to work hard in their new roles and set them on the path to long-term success.
• Company culture - A positive onboarding experience supports new hires in settling in quickly, understanding the organization, and adapting to the company culture. It is an opportunity to establish early on what being part of the team truly means.
• Engagement - Putting together a message that showcases an organization's professionalism and positive company culture will reassure employees that they made the right decision and that their new position is one that deserves their full engagement.
• Connection - When done correctly, a welcome message should set the tone for the positive workplace relationships at the company and aid employees in feeling connected to their new co-workers, allowing them to build strong bonds from their very first day.

Types of welcomes

Short welcome messages

Although simple and straight to the point, short welcome messages have a huge potential impact when it comes to reassuring employees, making them feel like a member of the team, and showing them that their skills and abilities are appreciated.

Some useful focus points for short messages include:

• We are happy to have you on our team.
• Welcome to the company.
• On behalf of every member of the company.
• Congratulations on becoming part of our company.
• It’s amazing to have a highly talented and skilled person in our team.
• Warm welcome on getting hired with our company.
• Welcome aboard.
• Welcome to the team.
• It’s great to have you in the company.

Welcome email

A welcome email for a new team member is a little more detailed and comprehensive than a message. This type of email for a new employee often comes from the new hire’s direct manager or the head of the department. The tone should be welcoming and helpful and it is common for such emails to include information such as:

• Start date reminder
• Work hours
• Dress code
• What to bring (e.g., ID, social security card, paperwork)
• Where to find their workstation
• Break room information (e.g., where to find coffee, snacks)
• Parking information
• Arrival instructions (i.e., check-in at reception)
• First-day schedule
• Welcome events (i.e., team lunch)
• Contact information

Welcome gift for new employees

Although messages and emails can work fine on their own, if employers are looking to up their game or go the extra mile, creating a welcome packet with free goodies for new employees is a great option.

Once this employee shows up for their first day, they will get a nice surprise when they see the welcome packet waiting for them. If the company has its own customized stationery, t-shirts, etc, then these will make great additions to the pack.

Key Takeaway

Even though it might seem like a small gesture, it’s clear that a welcome message can go a long way when it comes to helping an employee settle into a new company. Welcome messages

are typically sent to a new hire in the form of an email, a short message on a card or letter, or sometimes with a gift. When well-thought-out and crafted with care, welcome messages don’t have to be long or detailed to serve their intended purpose.

When crafting messages for employees, organizations should be clear about what they are trying to say, use a positive tone of voice, and most importantly, make sure the individual feels valued and appreciated as they step into their new role.

Along with this, welcome messages are a great method for opening up a line of communication between leaders and their workers and play a prominent role in employee engagement, motivation, and commitment.