Welcome to the JAM Team: Why it’s important to celebrate new teammates from Day One
Remember Ryan’s first day on The Office? He walks in, no one cares, Dwight grumbles something weird, Michael tries way too hard—it’s painfully awkward.
Sure, that’s TV, but let’s be honest… we’ve all seen some version of that play out in real life. The new hire left standing alone at the coffee machine. A dusty onboarding binder (does anyone read those?). A polite head nod, a quick wave, and then… radio silence.
Why do we do this? A new teammate’s first day should be exciting—not “meh.”
First Impressions = Culture Shapers
At JAM, we believe our new hire’s first day should feel like a celebration – because it IS. A new teammate has just joined our team and that’s worth celebrating, so we make sure they know it from the moment they step in our office.
How? With a high-five tunnel. Yes – an actual tunnel of cheering teammates, with their fave song blasting from our speaker. It’s loud. It’s ridiculous. It’s awesome. 😊 Every single new teammate at JAM walks through laughing, confused, and already feeling like a part of something special.
How JAM Onboards with Play
After the high-five tunnel, it’s icebreaker time – three silly questions designed to spark laughs, not anxiety. Think: “What’s your go-to karaoke song?” or “Who is the best athlete of all-time?” or “If you were a kitchen utensil, which one would you be?”
Then comes the JAM Sorting Hat…yes, just like Hogwarts. New teammates are sorted into one of our JAM Houses, Cottingham, Huron, Avenue and Bridgeland (all former streets of some of JAM’s earliest offices). Suddenly, they’ve got a crew, chants, rivalries, and bragging rights and they truly feel welcomed to our team.
And guess what? The whole thing takes less than 10 minutes. A tiny investment with a massive impact.
Why Effort on Day One Matters
You might be wondering, “Why bother?”
Because first impressions matter. As Joey Coleman shares in his brilliant book Never Lose an Employee Again, a new employee’s first day is a pivotal moment for building long-term loyalty and connection. Rather than a simple orientation, he advocates for a “remarkable” onboarding experience that makes new hires feel valued as part of a team, not just a resource
At JAM, we believe, Day One sets the tone for everything that follows. In my book It Pays to PLAY, I talk about micro-moments of connection – the little things that create trust, a sense of belonging, and joy. And Day One is packed with opportunities for those moments… if you intentionally design it that way.
Every time I watch someone beam their way through that tunnel or laugh through their first icebreaker, I’m reminded why we’ll never stop doing this. Our culture isn’t an accident – it’s a choice. And we choose to start strong, with play.
Simple Ideas for Fun Onboarding
If you’re in HR, a team leader, or a founder – consider this your invitation. Ditch the dusty checklist and try this instead:
- Swap the welcome email for a handwritten card (or a goofy welcome video).
- Assign a “buddy” for the first week, to show the new teammate around and be a go-to for questions.
- Play a 15-minute trivia game over lunch – and make the questions all about your new hire.
- Bring in music, laughter, and maybe even your own version of a sorting hat.
It doesn’t have to take long, but it does have to be intentional.
Because here’s the truth: a boring first day isn’t harmless. It can be the first step toward disengagement, turnover, or missed brilliance. But a fun, connected first day? That’s the start of loyalty, trust, and strong culture that lasts.
So, bring the fun and the high-fives. Because when someone feels celebrated on Day One, they’re way more likely to still be smiling with you on Day 1,000.
Culture doesn’t build itself. You create it. So, why not create a playful one!
And if you’re looking for more ideas to get play into your workPLAYce why not check out our JAM Corporate Leagues or DM me on Linked-In for more info!