The first impression matters. But you don't have to do much to make a new employee feel at ease. A simple message or email lifts their spirits and lets them know a good journey lies ahead. Managers, HR team members, and even colleagues can join the onboarding process and welcome the new employee with a good word. Showing your people that you appreciate them joining the company boosts employee engagement and creates a positive work environment from their first day.
The welcome message should be encouraging and honest. Let the new employee know you are ready to offer support and guidance and eager to see their fresh perspective. Don't make them feel small by praising the company or focusing on your or your department's achievements. Although a self-introduction is appreciated, the welcome message is not about you but about making the new employee feel acknowledged and accepted. Therefore, regardless of your place in the organizational chart, use a friendly tone that invites dialog and collaboration.
Alongside the welcome message, other informal ways to welcome a new employee or colleague are gifts and starter kits, coffee chats, training, team meet-and-greets, going for a team brunch/lunch, providing communication channels from the first day, and offering patient guidance throughout the first days.
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."-Lao Tzu
There are plenty of ways to deliver a message. The easiest is to send an email or a chat message. But you can also give a handwritten card, leave a post-it on the new employee's desk, or tell the message in person. Check out the following example welcome messages to make an idea or use them as templates.
When everyone is working from home, and you receive a notification that someone new will join the team, you know that sharing a welcome message is a nice thing to do. Find below a set of email examples to transmit greetings to the new hire when you need some inspiration.
Body: [New Employee Name], on behalf of the [Department/Team name], I am happy to be welcoming you to join our team. We look forward to getting to know you and having an incredible journey together. All the very best in your new role!
All the best,
[Your Name]
Body: Welcome to the team [New Employee, Name], and congratulations on your new role! I hope to have a long and successful journey together. Let me know if you need anything.
Best,
[Your Name]
Body: Today, we welcome [New Employee Name]. On behalf of the [Department/Team name], I am happy to have you on board. We are a small but energetic team of creative people. We are excited to welcome new perspectives and approaches. Feel free to experiment and ask if you need anything.
Best of luck,
[Your Name]
Body: Hello [New Employee Name],
We're excited to have you on board. We value the voice of everyone on our team and are eager to hear your ideas and opinions. Let's start this new journey over a coffee and get to know each other. Congratulations and welcome!
Body: [New Employee Name], on behalf of the [Department/Team name], I am excited to be welcoming you to our team. Ask questions, share ideas, and do what you do best. We are here to help you along the journey and grow together. Feel free to ask anyone if you need anything, and let's get to know each other as soon as possible.
Warmest regards,
[Your Name]
Body: Hi [New Employee Name],
I am happy you have joined our team. We believe in your valuable contribution and offer our full support. I hope the onboarding process goes smoothly, and you can soon join us for lunch. Don't hesitate to reach me if you need anything. I'm at the last desk on the right.
Welcome!
[Your Name]
Body: [New Employee Name], on behalf of the [Department/Team name], I am happy to be welcoming you to join our team. We look forward to getting to know you and having an incredible journey together. All the very best in your new role!
Body: We would like to extend our warmest welcome to [New Employee Name]. We are thrilled to have you and can't wait to exchange ideas and knowledge. Your skills and competencies precede you, and we are sure we'll do great things together.
All the best,
[Your Name]
Body: Hello [New Employee Name],
Congratulations on taking the next step in your career! We are happy to have you with us. Your expertise is an asset to any company, and we are eager to hear your ideas and thoughts. Don't hesitate to speak your mind and ask for our help. Best wishes for your first day!
Body: Dear [New Employee Name],
On behalf of the [Department/Team name], I would like to congratulate you on joining our company. We look forward to getting to know you, learning, and growing with you. All the very best in your new role!
You have access to an employee database with all employees, including new hires. You give them secure access to employee portals for tracking working hours and managing time off. The smart HR app you use notifies you when employees reach a career milestone or celebrate a birthday, so you don't miss the opportunity to show your appreciation.
It seems you have everything covered, and the onboarding process goes smoothly. However, the first step in making people feel welcome and comfortable is to send them a simple and friendly message. Here is everything you need to know about welcome messages for new employees.
“A good onboarding program leads to 69% of employees staying at least 3 years.” -OfficeVibe engagement survey
Below you can discover a set of messages that you can use to cheer up your new coworker. Please adapt them as you want, don't hesitate to add some personal remarks. Such moments are unique and will surely make a brighter day for the newcomer.
1. Hello [New Employee Name], welcome aboard. I am [Name], the [Position], and I am happy to have you with us. I'm sure we'll have a fantastic time together. We can't wait to start working with you!
2. It's great to have you here. Let's have a fantastic journey together and start right now over a coffee. Welcome to the company!
3. Congratulations on becoming the newest addition to our team. We look forward to your ideas and fresh perspectives. We promise to make the new role as exciting, challenging, and rewarding as possible. You can count on us! Best of luck!
4. Congratulations and welcome to the team! You bring a unique perspective, and we are eager to get to know you and build great things together. Feel free to explore and share your thoughts. If you need anything, just ask. Have a great first day at the office!
5. Warmest of welcome from all your coworkers. We are happy to have you on our team. We hope we made a good first impression and can soon become friends. Always feel free to ask us for help — we're here for you!
6. Welcome to the team! Starting a new job may be intimidating, but we are here for you. Let us know what we can do to make things easier for you on the first day. How do you like the office space? Do you have everything you need? Let's meet over a coffee for a longer chat.
7. Congratulations on the new position! We can't wait to see what the future brings. We hope you are comfortable and ready to start this journey together.
Best wishes for your first day!
8. Welcome! I am happy to meet you and eager to get to know you. As the team's newest member, I know how difficult the first days may be. So, let me know if I can help. I've been working here for a year now, so I know my way around. Best of luck!
9. Welcome! We hope everything is OK. Feel free to speak up, share your thoughts, and challenge us. We look forward to working with you.
10. Congratulations on joining the team! We hope you'll enjoy working with us. We are pretty much a group of friends around here, so don't hesitate to share your thoughts, ask for help, and be creative. We appreciate individuality and trust that every one of us brings something unique. Have a great first day!
If you're more introverted, or your style is more direct, concise, or short, we also have some examples of messages that fit your preferences. Just copy-paste the message you would like to share, and boost the energy for your new colleague.
1. Super excited to work with you. Welcome onboard!
2. All the very best in your new role and have a great first day at the office.
3. I'm glad to have you on the team. Looking forward to getting to know you!
4. Welcome to our team. Let's have a great journey together!
5. Congratulations and welcome aboard. We are excited to have you with us.
6. Welcome to the team [New Employee Name]. I want to welcome you on behalf of the [department/team/management] and hope you will enjoy working with us.
7. Delighted to have you join us. We can't wait to get to know you, so we planned a little meet-and-greet for you. Welcome!
8. I am so happy to have you on the team. Best of luck and have an amazing first day!
9. Great to have you onboard my new colleague. I look forward to getting to know you!
10. Welcome to the company. A remarkable journey lies in front of us. Let's do our best!
Final advice
Welcoming a new employee should be thoughtful and respectful and make them feel comfortable. Surround them with attention and ensure they have everything they need, from specialized training to their employee portal accounts and office supplies. The first day at work influences the employee's future loyalty and engagement. Get everyone involved and make the new employee feel welcome.
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