Remember your first

day on the job? Was it a good experience? Many organizations treat new

hires poorly, or even like they have a disease. If your business is suffering

from high turnover consider the first impression new people receive about

your place of business.

Employee retention

begins the first day on the job. In the larger scale, the first week on

the job determines if a new employee stays or quits 90 days from now.

The first week at work should stand in the memory of the new hire as a

positive event-a celebration that makes him or her proud to have chosen

this organization. Consider these alternatives.

Club-1230:

The Boys and Girls Club of America have a unique way to improve retention

in their Atlanta office. Once a week, they gather to meet and greet new

employees and share news of the good things happening in the organization.

This helps tear down silos, improves communication, and makes everyone

feel part of the same team.

Lunch Bunch:

In addition to Club-1230, a group of people are appointed as the "lunch

bunch." Their job is to travel around the office inviting employees

to eat lunch with them. They particularly target new employees and people

working in other departments. This is an excellent way to build loyalty

and team spirit. Each month a new group rotates as the "lunch bunch."

It is important

to build relationships with coworkers during those impressionable first

few days on the job. There are steps to take to ensure the first few days

at work are successful, and to eliminate resignations caused by unintentionally

thoughtless behavior.

Before the

First Day of Work

Appoint a person

to call and welcome the new hire. If they are a teenage--call their parents

and welcome them aboard.

Have the new

hire fill out forms on the company intranet if available.

Send a form

of greeting such as a card, welcome basket or other gesture.

The First Two

Days at Work

Have a group

of key employ ees sit down with the new person to discuss what it is like

to work there. Everyone benefits: the new hire gets a support network,

and key employees build their leadership skills.

Take a digital

photo of the new person and create a flyer to hang on the wall about his/her

hobbies, experiences and background information.

Have a company

T-shirt and/or company mug ready for the person.

Have business

cards ready.

Take the new

person out to lunch to meet the team.

Have a welcome

sign signed by the team.

Gregory P. Smith, author of

"The New Leader" and "How to Attract, Keep and Motivate

Your Workforce." He speaks at conferences, leads seminars and helps

organizations solve problems. He leads an organization called Chart Your

Course International in Conyers, Ga. Phone him at 770-860-9464 e-mail

[email protected]. Information and articles are at www.chartcourse.com .

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