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Psychologically Safe Orientation Strategies​ 

​​This resource from Workplace Strategies for Mental Health provides psychologically safe orientation strategies to help employers create welcoming, stress-reducing onboarding experiences, fostering trust and mental well-being from the start.​ 

Strategies you will find include:  

  • Preparation tips for welcoming new employees, such as setting up short coffee chats to get to know team members. 
  • Approaches to reduce anxiety for new hires, including clear communication of expectations. 
  • Suggestions for building connections, like assigning mentors or buddies. 
  • Tools for providing feedback to help new employees feel valued and supported. 

Tourism and hospitality workplaces often attract many young and new workers who are starting their first job, so a positive onboarding experience is essential for setting them up for success in the industry. It helps build their confidence, reduces anxiety, and ensures they feel supported in their roles, which can lead to better performance and job satisfaction. 

A well-structured orientation is not only a best practice, but is required as per OHS regulation 3.23. By integrating psychologically safe orientation strategies, tourism and hospitality employers can help ensure that new hires—especially young workers—understand their rights and responsibilities, contributing to a safer, more inclusive workplace. This approach prioritizes the mental well-being of new employees but also reinforces a commitment to overall workplace safety. 

For example, a hotel could implement a buddy system as outlined in the resource to provide a psychologically safe orientation. By pairing new hires with experienced employees, the new staff members have a designated person to turn to with questions or concerns during their first few weeks. This approach can help reduce anxiety, create a sense of belonging, and encourage open communication, allowing new employees to adjust more comfortably to their roles. It also fosters a supportive environment that aligns with the hotel’s commitment to a positive workplace culture.