Employee orientation programs are integral to the foundation of a business. A proper orientation program helps new hires to feel welcome and committed to staying with your company for the long-haul. Many times, though, orientation programs can be very dry and boring. If your company is far from dull, the last impression you’d want to make on new hires is just that!

Using innovative techniques and exciting activities throughout the orientation process may alleviate a little bit of that boredom. Try these ideas to spice up the event and make the orientation process more fun:

1. Name Chain. A lot of times managers are afraid to implement fun icebreakers for their employees because they feel it would be too ‘silly’. However, by partaking in these introduction activities, employees begin to form bonds and get to know one another much faster, setting the stage for a comfortable and friendly work environment. For a simple yet amusing icebreaker, have employees introduce themselves with an adjective that matches their personality. For example, an employee named “Catherine” may introduce herself as “Crazy Cathy”. As each employee introduces his or herself, have them name off everyone who spoke before them. This helps employees to learn both the names and attributes of their co-workers.
2. Scavenger Hunt. Host a scavenger hunt to help employees get acquainted with the office after they have toured the area. Items such as office supplies, supervisor offices, break rooms, and first-aid kits are usually necessary for employees to locate on a regular basis. This activity will get new employees to work together and quickly get familiar with the office surroundings.
3. Flying High. Some of the most important facets of a strong company are their corporate visions and values. Using an interactive game, such as ‘kite-making’, may help new employees to understand and internalize those very values. The game requires you to hang up brightly colored kites with company values written on them. Then, provide employees with index cards that have specific behaviors written on them. Employees should team up and create a tail for their kite using the behavior cards, deciding which behaviors most closely align with what is written on the kite. You may even choose to have the employees brainstorm and create their own cards to match each company value rather than supplying them with the behaviors.
4. The “Newly-hired” Game. This activity will undoubtedly have everyone laughing. Use the structure of the old “Newlywed Game” and apply it to supervisors and employees. Have the supervisors guess how employees would answer specific work-related questions, and use a point-system for rewards. At the end of the day, recognize winners with a medal, gift basket, or other similar reward.
5. Get involved. The last thing employees want to do is sit around and listen to lectures all day about what they will be doing. Have them start right away! Give employees a taste of their job by setting up small assignments for them to do at orientation. This will most likely increase employees’ interest in the job and will help them to hit the ground running.
6. Celebrate. Show your new employees that you are excited they have joined your team. At the end of the day, host a small reception-type event with snacks and refreshments. Invite co-workers so new employees have the opportunity to meet existing staff. This will serve to foster a strong relationship among employees and contribute to a better work environment altogether.

There are many ways to integrate fun activities into the employee orientation program while still meeting the established goals and standards of the company. By making orientation fun, employers maintain employee interest and get them excited about their work; not to mention, employees are more likely to remember things learned at orientation when they enjoy the learning process. Furthermore, by enabling new hires to get to know one another, personal connections are formed that allow for a much more amicable work environment. Forget the boring old lectures and tours, make orientation fun and exciting for your employees!