1. Send a Welcome Package – This would include any company promotional material, an employee handbook, benefits package, etc.
2. Notify Payroll of the new employee so there is no delay in them getting paid.
3. Notify Security (if applicable) to get the process of providing them with a security/I.D. badge underway.
4. Create an Email and Voicemail account for them along with instructions on how to change their password.
5. Office Announcements – Let the rest of the team know about the new employee and include their new phone number and email address. A nice touch would be to have the team send them a welcome email or voice mail.
6. Introductory Lunch – Within the first few days on the job, arrange for a lunch with the new employee and the rest of the department or key people they will interact with. This too helps them settle in quickly and start feeling like part of the team.
7. Industry Announcement (if applicable)
8. Start the enrollment process for health and other benefit programs.
9. Allocate a Work Space. Make sure they have a desk (cleaned out) and computer (preferably loaded and configured) on the day they start. There is nothing worse than showing up to your new job excited about getting going only to find that you had been forgotten about, and not planned for. Having a place ready for them lets them know you are happy they have joined your team, and allows them to get settled in and become productive much faster.
10. Order Business Cards and Office Name Plates. Again, a simple touch, but it tells the new employee you’re glad they have joined your team.

Once your new employee knows you have gone to the trouble to make them feel welcome, they are much more confident they have made the right choice and feel ready to start this next step in their career. It also makes your job easier because you know you are ready for your new team member to begin without having to do a last minute dash. I hope this list is helpful and makes this process as smooth as possible for you.