First days at a new job are easier when someone invites you for coffee. It is a simple onboarding step that costs little.
Having coffee together on day one is an easy way to introduce a new person to the team and the office. Assign a buddy to show them the kitchen, the coffee device, and the house rules, then invite them for a few informal coffees with different colleagues over the next weeks.
Day one
- Show the kitchen and the coffee device.
- Explain the rules: mugs, fridge, cleanup.
- Have the first coffee together.
The following weeks
Schedule a few short coffees with people from different teams. It helps the newcomer learn who does what.
In a large company
In larger organizations, shared coffee areas make these meetups easier. The page on vending for corporations (publisher's site) covers setups for big offices.
FAQ
Does the buddy coffee have to be in the office? No, a short video call works for remote staff.
How long should it last? A quarter of an hour or so is enough.