Businesses urged to implement 'buddy' system

Businesses taking on new workers have been encouraged to implement a buddy scheme to make a new starter feel welcome.

Starting out on a new career development path can be a daunting experience and Ruth Sanderson, managing director of bluepeapod.com, explained that pairing people with an experienced colleague will help them fit into the environment more quickly.

She said it is important to answer anything from tea and toilet questions through to queries about company policy, as this helps a worker settle in during the first few weeks.

"Ideally this buddy will keep an eye on them for the first few weeks, without being intrusive, just to make sure they're settling in," the expert noted.

Ms Sanderson also urged businesses to have a new employee's workspace set up before they arrive as this will make them feel welcome and part of the team rather than like they are getting in the way.

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