{"id":1098,"date":"2021-11-18T18:00:51","date_gmt":"2021-11-18T18:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/?p=1098"},"modified":"2026-02-18T11:11:56","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T11:11:56","slug":"how-to-welcome-a-new-employee-virtually","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/how-to-welcome-a-new-employee-virtually\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Welcome a New Employee Virtually"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Congratulations! You\u2019ve successfully gone through the tiresome hiring process \u2014 from slicing and dicing hundreds of resumes to joining in dozens of video interviews. You\u2019ve met the perfect match for the position, and your new hire is on the way. Now you can stop and catch your breath because it\u2019s finally over. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or is it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a virtual setting, all the difference between getting your new employees up and running and making them run for their lives lies in successful onboarding. Skipping this step could result in waving your new hires goodbye even before they\u2019ve properly adjusted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of seeing them out or being unsure how to welcome a new employee virtually, we are here to give you a helping hand. If you\u2019re wondering what needs to be done before you meet your new employee, how to prepare for their first day, and what to do after they have officially onboarded, we\u2019ve got you covered. From virtual icebreakers to a remote onboarding checklist, your new employees are bound to get off to a great start.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"how<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Before you meet and greet your new employee<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first day of work can be agonizing. In a remote setting, the fear of the unknown frequently goes through the roof. The main culprit for the increased stress levels is the isolation that prevents the new hires from genuinely connecting with the team<\/a>. Deprived of the casual chit-chat with the rest of the newbies, your new employees are probably a bundle of nerves, and it appears like there’s nothing you can do to ease them into their new job. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, setting the stage before their big day brings peace and quiet and ensures your new team members are here to stay. Let’s go over all the steps you need to go through to pave the way for your new hires’ success before they’re officially onboarded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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\n Welcome your new employees virtually with Pumble<\/span>\n

Pumble helps you keep your virtual team connected from the get-go.<\/p>\n\n

\n See features<\/a>\n\n Join Pumble<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n \n \"Illustration\"\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n\n\n\n

Plan and prepare before you perform<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If \u201cHe who fails to prepare prepares to fail\u201d<\/em> is true, thensitting around on your backside before your new employee\u2019s arrival is a quick road to a collapse. Research<\/a> has shown that the new employee retention rate is interlinked with their engagement in the onboarding process. New hires have difficulty adjusting to the new work environment when faced with a cold shoulder instead of a warm welcome. On top of that, most of the situations that came naturally during the back-at-the-office days<\/a> have to be organized ahead now that we have migrated into a virtual setting.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adequate preparation for the newcomer\u2019s arrival includes more than sending them out a contract to sign. However, something as plain as informing a new employee of their job responsibilities could slip from your mind without face-to-face communication. Since it\u2019s always better to be safe than sorry, we\u2019ve put together a handy virtual onboarding checklist to help both you and your new employee stand firmly on your feet even before day one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Virtual onboarding checklist<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
\u2705 Send your new employee an offer and a contract to sign<\/td><\/tr>
\u2705 Gather all the necessary information from the new employee (their address, forms of identification, etc.)  <\/td><\/tr>
\u2705 Send a welcome email to the new team member<\/td><\/tr>
\u2705 Schedule all the meetings a couple of days ahead<\/td><\/tr>
\u2705 Set up all the necessary accounts for the new employee<\/td><\/tr>
\u2705 Send the new hire their login info<\/td><\/tr>
\u2705 Ensure all the technology is up and running before the first day<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Set the stage for the new employee<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In line with all the necessary preparation goes making sure all is set before the clock strikes nine. Welcoming a new employee virtually doesn\u2019t give you an opportunity to set up their workstation or decorate their cubicle. However, it still leaves enough room to arrange their virtual workspace and ensure their technology works like clockwork. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The process of making sure your new remote employee is ready for their first day could appear overwhelming. However, the last-minute preparation for your new team member\u2019s onboarding usually results in them being tied up with getting familiar with the workspace, attending dozens of meetings, and trying to finish job-related tasks all during their first day. Instead of leaving your newbies snowed under all the information, try to minimize their burden by setting the stage ahead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apart from delivering them the essential technological equipment, attempt to compose an in-depth guide for setting up their computers and joining in the workspace. If a handbook doesn\u2019t save the day when an issue arises, having your IT department on standby for additional technological support can come in handy when everything else fails. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spread the word about the new employee<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Back in the day, your team could spot a new person walking down the hallway and get to know them in a matter of seconds. Going virtually, the tables have turned. Although joining a channel in a team chat app, such as Pumble<\/a>, does leave a notice for everyone to see, working in dispersed teams sometimes means not everyone will see the news at the same time. Perhaps your team is working across different time zones<\/a>, and their work schedules differ. When that is the case, letting them be caught by surprise by their new coworker\u2019s arrival isn\u2019t the best idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you timely notify your teams about all the new people joining in, you leave them enough time to prepare for all the questions the new hires might have. Apart from that, ensuring the onboarding process is transparent enough enhances team communication and connection further. They will be more likely to approach the new people and make them feel welcome if they don\u2019t feel threatened by them, which is often the case when having to deal with guesswork instead of facts. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"In
In Pumble, you can notify everyone of the new employee\u2019s arrival even before their first day<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Notifying your team about new hires is easy in Pumble<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On their first day<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Being plagued by getting off to a great start will probably keep your new employee tossing and turning the whole night before their big day. When their first day doesn\u2019t require them to commute for an hour to get to the office, they even get an additional hour to shake like a leaf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To ease their minds and pave the way for a triumphant onboarding experience, you will need to go over additional preparation regarding your new employee\u2019s day one. Let\u2019s take a look at all the steps you need to take to ensure your new hires sail through the hardships of their first day in a new company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Break the ice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although it does sound like a clich\u00e9, you only get one chance at introductions. Shutting your eyes to your new hires\u2019 anxiety during their first conference call with the rest of the team could negatively impact their entire socialization process. Starting off on the wrong foot could be especially risky for a virtual teams\u2019 sense of connection<\/a>. Namely, the lack of face-to-face communication implies that the new hires\u2019 sense of belonging might take a bit longer to foster, and their worry does not make the process any easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, when you set the adequate tone right from the start, everything falls into place. Starting a video call with an engaging and informal icebreaker activity instead of a strict agenda could lighten the stressful situation and even increase the new hires\u2019 performance and retention rate<\/a>. To ensure the first call goes bright and breezy, we\u2019ve compiled a list of five virtual icebreaker<\/a> activities to help your new employees form close ties with the rest of the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Would you rather?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Time<\/strong>: 10 minutes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will need<\/strong>: A list of interesting questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it\u2019s played<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n