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I have been doing some final research for my new book New Employee Orientation: Tips, Templates & Tactics (due out early 2009) and discovered this fascinating post from Alexander Kjerulf in his blog Chief Happiness Officer. I have reproduced it in full as it struck a chord with me about how to welcome new hires into your workplace.  How would you feel if on your first day this note was waiting for you?

Imagine it’s your first day in a new job. You sit down at your desk for the first time, and waiting for you there is a note from your new boss.

In the note your boss bids you a warm welcome to the company, and then says this:

1: My most important priority is your happiness and productivity at work. If there’s anything I can do to make you happier and more efficient – tell me right away. This isn’t idealism, it’s good business, because happy people are more productive.

2: I will not burden you with endless rules and regulations. You’re an adult – I trust you to use your best judgment.

3: You have my full permission to screw up, as long as you own up to it, apologize to those affected and learn from it.

4: Please tell me when I screw up so I can apologize and learn from it.

5: Please make sure to hunt down people who do great work and praise them for it. I will do this as much as humanly possible, but I can’t do it alone.

6: If I get it right occasionally, I’d love to hear about it from you, too )

7: I will always have time for you. My calendar will never be so full that my next free time to talk to you is three weeks from next Friday.

8: I want to know about you as an employee AND as a human being. I DO care about your private life, about your and your family’s health and well-being.

9: Life is more than work. If you’re regularly working overtime, you’re just making yourself less happy and more stressed. Don’t join the cult of overwork – it’s bad for you and the company.

10: I expect you to take responsibility for your own well-being at work. If you can do something today to make yourself, a co-worker or me a little happier at work – do it!

This post was inspired by Michael Wade’s post over at ExecuPundit called Note from boss to employees. I liked his tips but I found the tone of them a little defensive. Michael’s tips had an undercurrent of “business is hard and being a leader is tough but we can slog it out together.”

I disagree – work is great fun (or at least it could and should be).

How would you like a note like this from your new boss?

Until next time

Ingrid Cliff

We put your business into words

Heart Harmony – HR Copywriter

At the moment we have an extra 2 kids staying with us for an extended period. It reminded me of what it is like when a new employee joins your team.

From your side

• You have new people to learn about and get to know their interests and preferences – this takes time and can’t be rushed (even if you want to!).
• They may or may not do things the same way you do them. If things must be done the same way you need to explain not only what to do but how they should be done.
• Some new employees will be tidier/messier than you are used to. This can cause tension unless you have an honest conversation about it.
• You need to explain the rules of the building and any particular quirks you have in relation to being interrupted while you are working.
• It takes a while for routine to be re-established. Generally you will not be as productive in the first few weeks while a new employee learns the ropes – factor that into your timetable for the first few weeks.

From their side

• The majority of new employees really want things to go smoothly – they want to do the right thing and do everything “right”.
• They are learning about you as much as you are learning about them – except they are out of their comfort zone. You may get some interesting stress reactions from them as they are learning.

Overall – you need to be open and honest in your communication with new employees. Don’t let things slide – deal with them now before the problems explode down the track.

Of course a formal induction is essential. But no amount of induction will deal with the small things like a new employee not covering their food in the microwave or not washing up their coffee cups if that is what everyone else does. That takes straight talking conversation to deal with.

Until next time

Ingrid Cliff
Heart Harmony