A short, informal session where new people are introduced to the team, a manager or key contacts.
The first week sets the tone for how a new employee feels about the job. When nobody introduces them, new hires spend their early shifts guessing whom to ask, which slows them down and makes them more likely to leave early.
EZTime digital HR forms let you send, sign and file employee documents online.
A meet and greet also helps the existing team. Shift workers often cover for each other, swap shifts and hand over tasks. Knowing a new colleague’s name and role makes those handovers smoother from the first day.
For hourly employees, a meet and greet held during scheduled hours is normally work time and should be recorded and paid like any other required activity. Holding it inside the shift avoids that question and makes attendance easier.
A grocery store hires three new cashiers who start on the same Monday. At 2:45 p.m., when the morning and afternoon shifts overlap, the store manager gathers the front-end team near the service desk for 20 minutes. Each person gives their name and role, the head cashier explains how breaks are scheduled, and the assistant manager shows where shift swaps are requested. The new hires are paired with buddies for the rest of the week. The manager logs the session as part of each employee’s onboarding and the time appears on their timesheets.
| Minutes | What happens | Who leads |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 3 | Welcome and why the new person was hired | Supervisor |
| 3 to 13 | Each person: name, role, one tip for working with them | Team |
| 13 to 17 | The new person: name, previous experience if they want to share, first questions | New hire |
| 17 to 20 | Who to ask about schedules, pay and safety; introduce the onboarding buddy | Supervisor |
Keep the timing tight and end on time. If the team is large, split it into two short sessions by shift rather than one long one.
Fifteen to thirty minutes is usually enough. Longer sessions tend to turn into presentations.
When attendance is required or it happens during work hours, it is generally treated as work time. Check the rules that apply to you with a payroll or employment professional.
Yes. A short video call works well for remote teams or employees at other sites. Share the list of names and roles in writing afterward.
No. Orientation covers policies, safety and paperwork. A meet and greet is about introducing people.
Book a demo and an EZTime specialist can show how your team could handle this with a time and attendance system.
The new hire’s direct supervisor, so the introductions come from the person they will report to. HR can supply the list of names and roles.
Hold a short session at the start of their first shift with that shift’s team, and add a video call or written introduction for the day team.
An EZTime specialist can walk you through it using your own team’s setup.