NYCM Stories: Welcoming New Employees in Return to Office

Starting a new job can elicit feelings of both excitement and anxiety. To help quell some of those first day jitters for NYCM Insurance employees who were hired during the pandemic and who may have only worked from home, the NYCM People Development team organized orientations at company campuses. The orientations provided 72 employees the unique opportunity to learn the surroundings at the campuses with fellow members of the company who have also joined in the last two years.

Since March 16, 2020, NYCM has hired 104 new and active employees, many of whom have only worked from home as the world has done its best to weather the COVID-19 pandemic. The orientations at the Edmeston, Sherburne, and Orchard Park campuses on April 26, 27, and 28 helped familiarize new hires with the layout of the offices, and the new staff were also introduced to the many onsite resources available as employees are beginning to return to the office in a hybrid capacity.

Shaking First Day Jitters

Team members at the orientation started their day with ice breaker activities to meet the peers with whom they would tour the campus. Employees then embarked on a scavenger hunt across the campuses to learn the whereabouts of useful destinations and met long-serving employees who described specifics about the buildings and the responsibilities of respective departments located there. Lunch was provided and employees were able to visit their desks to get set up ahead of the return to office.

“People Development was excited to host this unique orientation for new hires that started remotely during the pandemic,” said NYCM Insurance Recruiter Crystal Curpier. “It gave us the opportunity to meet with them the week before we began our ‘Snap Forward’ back into the office to help take away those first day jitters many of them were feeling all over again! It was a fun, interactive day that ended with many smiles!”

 

Introducing the Renovation

In May 2022 the company began its Snap Forward initiative, beginning the return to office in a limited capacity. During the two years apart, the company saw renovations across office locations to update the environments for employees.

Employees returning to the Edmeston office were able to see the new 35,500 square foot addition for the first time, featuring additional conference rooms, work stations and offices, as well as a 600-seat auditorium. The orientation for Edmeston based employees was kicked-off in the new auditorium, which was completed in 2021 while employees were working remotely.

“Honestly the orientation was really nice because I knew of certain areas, but it was a good refresher,” said NYCM Insurance APD Examiner Kourtney Nizeul, who joined the company in August 2021. “It was nice to be able to see how big the company is and to hear how many employees work here and everything we offer, like the fitness center. And it was cool to meet and see all of the new hires’ faces; everybody’s different over Zoom, so it was fun.”

The scavenger hunt led employees to various destinations they will frequent in their time in office, including cafeterias, the help desk and IT services, and other important wings of the building. Along with the addition, orientation attendees were introduced to the newly renovated fitness center on the Edmeston campus. The fitness center includes a variety of treadmills, exercise bikes, free weights, and other machinery open to all employees to use at their convenience.

“It was wonderful to be able to experience the new hire orientation,” said NYCM Insurance Creative Campaign Coordinator Tina Roalef. “I was brought onto the NYCM team in August of 2021 and had some feelings of uncertainty about returning to the office. Being able to attend the orientation allowed me to meet new people, feel comfortable getting around the sizable campus, and feel more connected to my colleagues.”

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