Attending a client session recently, I was pleased to hear that some managers were discussing the best day for a new employee to start on a new job.
The managers had concluded that Monday was never a good day. At their particular company, a company-wide Monday morning meeting was thought to potentially intimidate a new employee; they figured week two was soon enough, once the employee had been introduced to the business and the culture.
But, they had also determined that a Monday start date in organizations was left over from the days when most HR issues were handled by finance. In those days, calculations for compensation, withholding amounts, accrued benefits, and so forth, was just more convenient for payroll. The convenience and ease factor may still exist - for accounting.
But don't count on it as best for the new employee, the manager, the IT department, or the new employee mentor. The fact is, organizations are never ready on Monday, if that is the first day of the work week.
There is always something not complete that will interfere with your new employee welcome. These are the top ten ways to turn off a new employee.
On a side note, the same managers held a phone meeting with the new employee and the employee's assigned mentor a week before the new employee start date. They also planned to begin downloading email into the new employee's account a few days before the start date so the new employee would have a better context for the happenings he experienced upon starting thhe new job.
More About Welcoming a New Employee
At my previous job, we started everyone on Thursday with a two-day orientation. This included an silly icebreaker that involved candy (always a plus), presentations by managers from both sides of manufacturing process, H/R presentations on benefits, payroll, general policies, time to fill out forms with someone there to assist if there are questions, plus some critical safety training with a plant tour before we let the new employees loose on a dangerous site. The employee then started the next week on their regular shift and could focus on their actual job. They’ve now added a third day to orientation, so the new hires start on Wednesday. They’ve done this for about 3-4 years now and it is working very well.
I started at one company on a Monday, and they were not ready for me. The hiring manager was not available for 4 days, the co-worker was barely aware I was starting (and was “too busy” to deal with me), IT didn’t have a phone or computer for me for 5 days, and it took almost 2 weeks to get me a building access key. I had to enter at reception (about half-mile thru building from my work location) or get in closest door to work area on coattails of someone else. They sat me in a cubicle with no phone, computer, or office supplies and with a filthy, half-broken chair to boot. Yet, they told me they were very excited I joined the company and was starting work there. The manager knew he wasn’t going to be available on my start date, but insisted I start then anyway (and I had informed him I had no problem with starting the following week). I only stayed there for 6 months and quit. My manager had lunch with me exactly one time–my last day and wondered why I was leaving. So yes, the first week (and ongoing onboarding) is extremely important as it sets the tone.
I left my last job on a Thursday, and started this one on a Tuesday. It gave me a mini – break, and I felt refreshed when I started. It also gave me a short first week- which is nice when you are learning so much the first week.
I think what Jen has to say is so critical to the success of a new employee! When I went to work at my last job I had much the same experience. I was eventually put in charge of recruiting and onboarding and made it my mission to create a better experience for other new employees. I once conducted a follow-up visit with a new employee who told me that he had been reading the phone book for a week! Not the company phone book mind you, the Yellow Pages….
Unfortunately the days of HR processes being driven by payroll are still too common. In my last three places of employment (all civil service) an employee’s first work day was determined by the needs of the accounting and payroll systems. Nothing frustrates me more than when a “tool” becomes the driving force behind a policy and so far I’ve never met an IT/payroll department that understood that concept.
I met with HR on a Monday and started the following week. We had a DAY LONG orientation in a room that was so cold that staff kept apologizing-they also kept leaving to get warm. We all kept our outerwear on. There were so many presentations I lost count and asked to sign forms without reading. They appeared pretty upset when I informed them I needed to read them over before signing.
I started work on the following Monday. I was not given an orientation or training for the position, was not introduced to staff and to date (3 months) only met with my supervisor twice. The work place is totally unprofessional. I’ve resigned, the best thing I could have done.
Mid week. The day in the mid week is perfect for onboarding a new employeee. In general Office staff always found busy on monday after half day (Saturday) & Holiday (On Sunday). People joine office after one and half day off. Makes them all busy towards pending work etc. In this case if a new employee joines on Monday may feel ignorant on first day itself. Mid day of the week will become perfect from both way, for the ongoing employee (in rythm of the work) and for the new comer to see other working. and by end of the week he/she will be familier with the office environment.
I’ve never thought about start days–I’ve given a lot of thought to what day to terminate (never on a Friday)–but I think this makes a fabulous point.
I agree, never start on a Monday. I love the Thursday start with two day orientation.
I always suggest people join midweek, Wed/Thu for 2 reasons:
1. In India, many people who exit a company on a Fri and join a new employer on a Mon are not aware they are without company health insurance over the weekend.
2. The weekend break is welcome after the first 2-3 stress full days on a new job
Tuesdays work best for our company. Most of the staff works four 10-hour days, Monday through Thursday. Mondays and Thursdays are our busiest customer days. Mondays are hectic for staff even when we arent busy. Wednesday has a long meeting in the middle of the day for management which affects everyone elses schedule and access to the library where we conduct orientation and intro to the computer system. Fridays have limited staff and is peppered with phone conferences and meetings. Therefore, Tuesdays offer the best opportunity to devote undivided attention to a new person.
Thursday gives relief to a new employee that he has to attend work one more day and get rest on weekend to analyze work and working environment. It would help him to understand his position and work, work environment. He would be more confidently prepared to start work on Monday.
Wow. I thought this article, and the comments, were going to be so beneficial to me. It was. It showed me that anyone who is not on the financial/payroll side of the wall really has a lot of disdain for those that are. Including the author of the article.
As someone who IS on that side of the wall – it doesn’t really matter what day someone begins. Obviously, it also depends on the type of company and the size of the HR package that has to be completed. Personally, I’d rather see new employees begin about mid-week in order to feel comfortable about their new surroundings and job.
Finally, it is very dismaying to see so many people devalue finance/payroll.
I like Monday for a start date. If an employee is going to work Monday through Friday, why not start the first week in a new job on the regular schedule?
Monday is the best day to start, like stepping on your best foot forward. Never say a ” blue monday”. Its like a matter of conditioning the mind that we should come to work exactly on time and on the first day of the week.
my view is that Monday is the better day for a new employee to start work. because psychologically the mind is set to start work on Monday, all the company has to do is have plan orientation a week before so that by Monday human resource is organized and the new employees can start work.
One or two days into the week before a new employee starts work is advisable. Mondays are characteristic of the Monday blues and these may make the employee not be as upbeat for the job ahead
Monday makes little sense here in Nigeria. particularly in Lagos where Monday traffic is crazy, meetings are feisty and tempers very short, a new employee might loose his/her enthusiasm to the ever sure ‘Monday-morning madness’ which is bad for motivation sake!
I like Friday and i think that its great start to live free and once in my life i start new job in Friday)
For last 12 years, I am into IT recruitment and have made a practice that employees join us on Thursday, with “Welcom Lunch” at the canteen or a Cocktail dinner outside the Office Canteen.
His orientation starts from Next Tuesday till Thursday and he is ready to get into the job from Friday.
Anyway, communicate to all the departments on joining of new employees and plan their induction time.
Regds,
Ananth
i think thurs ady is perfect for new employee.because after working three days sunday will come.short orientation is better whn we are in new place especially in working…
i think thursday is perfect for new entrant in the organizaton……short time orientation is better in the time of joining in new job…..he or she make refresh for next week engagements…….