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First impressions matter—especially in the workplace. Welcoming a new employee is more than just a polite gesture; it’s a crucial step in ensuring their satisfaction and long-term commitment to your restaurant. Here’s why a warm welcome can make all the difference in employee retention.
Why Welcoming a New Employee is Crucial
The first day at a new job can be overwhelming.
A warm welcome helps to ease nerves and sets a positive tone for their experience. When new employees feel valued from the start, they’re more likely to feel connected to the team and the company culture.
Builds Immediate Engagement
A well-organized onboarding process fosters immediate engagement and shows employees you care about their experience. It signals that the organization is invested in their success, making new hires more likely to invest their energy and enthusiasm into their work.
Encourages Stronger Team Bonds
When existing team members are involved in welcoming a new hire, it helps to build camaraderie. Strong team bonds are essential for creating a supportive work environment where employees feel comfortable, appreciated, and motivated to stay.
Reduces Turnover Costs
High turnover can be costly in terms of time, money, and team morale. By making new employees feel supported from day one, you reduce the likelihood of them leaving early, resulting in significant savings on recruitment and training costs.
Reinforces Company Values
The way you onboard new employees is a reflection of your company’s values. It’s an opportunity to reinforce the culture and expectations in a way that resonates with the new hire, helping them align with the company’s goals and mission.
How to Welcome New Employees Effectively
Welcoming a new employee isn’t just a formality; it’s a strategic move that can significantly impact their satisfaction and retention. Shifty’s technology platform uniquely sits at the intersection of team scheduling, training, and engagement.
Shifty empowers you to manage your teams from that initial onboarding to the day-to-day, providing your team with an unmatched experience that will improve efficiency and retention. Here’s how we help you welcome new employees effectively:
Prepare in Advance
Ensure everything is ready before the new employee arrives—workspace setup, login credentials, and any necessary materials. A smooth start shows that you’re organized and thoughtful about their arrival.
With Shifty, you only have to do this preparation once to have a repeatable onboarding process for all employees across departments. When you’re busy running a restaurant, that time savings is significant.
Personalize the Experience
A personalized welcome, such as a note from the team or hiring manager, can make a big impact. It shows that you’ve thought about them as an individual, not just another hire. Shifty allows you to personalize the experience for each new hire, from department-specific training modules to unique welcome announcements.
Introduce Them to the Team
What sets Shifty apart from other training platforms are our built-in interactive features that create engagement between employees during the training and onboarding process.
Shifty ensures employee interaction can extend beyond those initial, brief team introductions.
Provide a Clear Onboarding Plan
Outline what their first days and weeks will look like. Shifty provides a clear roadmap, helping them to understand what’s expected and giving them the confidence to hit the ground running.
Follow Up Regularly
Check in with your new employee after their first day, week, and month. Regular follow-ups show that you care about their experience and are open to feedback, which can help address any concerns early on.
You can also encourage your new hires, along with your long-term staff, to use Shifty’s "Anonymous Suggestion” feature to further build an open, communicative, team-first culture.
ours, the onboarding process is crucial to your restaurant’s success. Shifty can help set you apart and retain a committed staff.
