It's common knowledge that retaining a current staff member is more cost-effective than recruiting and training a new one. Giving talent a comprehensive new hire welcome kit is the best way to onboard incoming staff and help them get up to speed quickly.
New employee welcome kits allow you to communicate the office's tone, structure, and environment with new hires immediately after they sign their offer letter or begin the job. In addition, businesses that provide new employees welcome gifts bolster excitement and engagement during their transition into the workplace.
An employee welcome kit is the first step in creating a solid rapport with new hires that will last throughout their journey with your company. Today we'll go over what you should include in your kit, the best gifts for new employees, and why sharing them with new hires is essential.
What is a New Hire Welcome Kit?
The term "new hire welcome kit" refers to a box presented to a new employee that gives them important information about your business. It’s also an opportunity to share the company’s brand and mission while also establishing a relationship with new hires.
As previously mentioned, the kit is typically presented right after an employee starts their new position, though it is suggested that it is given as soon as the offer letter is signed.
An employee's first day on the job is a cause for celebration. Therefore it's customary to hand them freebies to get them up to speed and help them start work on the right foot. However, ensure that your company considers the quality of the gifts, as they will likely be promoted online and become the subject of conversation (for good or ill).
Every company has its own unique “welcome new employee” gift, but they typically contain a set of items the new hire will need to get started.
Preparing a well-thought-out welcome kit for new hires has immediate and far-reaching positive effects, such as:
Establishing a Tone - Creates a warm and friendly tone by supplying the new hire with goods they may find helpful or pleasant. It can also aid in making them feel a part of the team as soon as they step through the door.
Showcasing the Culture - Produces a standard for how employees should behave and how the organization should communicate with customers.
Building Rapport - Motivates new workers to go headfirst into their jobs by giving them a sense of pride in their organization. It can help human resources specialists advertise the benefits and career advancement chances their organization offers.
Brand Awareness - New hires are eager to spread the word by posting their welcome packages on LinkedIn, where many readers will interact with the materials provided. This allows your organization to reach a wider audience in the business sector. Locating qualified new hires is challenging enough. Therefore, distributing welcome gifts to prospective employees will increase your company's visibility as a desirable organization. Additionally, having your brand talked about online can help generate more company leads, expanding your kit’s reach and increasing its potential for positive impact.
Instilling a Sense of Unity - Providing new hires with branded apparel is an effective method to foster strong company culture, a goal shared by most organizations. The widespread distribution of welcome packages reflects the importance of people on making others feel at home.
While new hires will undoubtedly enjoy the gifts that are bundled in their welcome package, you also want to include documentation to expedite the onboarding process. Include the company's mission and goals, as well as any policies that employees are expected to follow in the handbook. Information on the organizational structure is essential, but so are the documents that will enable new hires to get up to speed as soon as possible.
Companies who provide a welcome package for their new hires often reap the following benefits:
- It helps the company save time and money
- Increases first-year job performance
- It helps retain more of your staff and get new hires up to speed more quickly
- Positional expectations and desired outcomes are placed in context
- Supplies explanations for their frequent concerns
8 Thoughtful Welcome Gifts for New Employees
A new employee welcome kit doesn’t have to be plain or boring. It can be colorful, carefully designed, and tailored to the specific needs of your new employee.
Ultimately, your welcome gift is a thoughtful way to show you're excited to have them on board. This is one of the reasons why companies also include thoughtful and unique gifts with these kits.
A welcome gift basket is a great way to show how much you value them joining the team or your appreciation for their hard work week one. Use the employee welcome packages below to add some joy into your company's onboarding procedure:
1. Sunshine
It’s always best to start a new relationship on a positive note, and you can easily do this with the right welcome kit. New employees will immediately know you care when they see their gift sitting on their desk or arriving at their front door.
However, you don't want to settle for a standard gift basket. You want to show new hires your willing to go the extra mile. That's why we recommend your new hire welcome kit shines bright like the sun with Unboxme’s Sunshine gift box.
This unique and delicious package is filled with a delightful assortment of goodies. Onboarding will go much smoother with the help of fruity spiced teas, golden-yellow honey, and luxury spa goodies that are sure to put them in a pleasant mood.
2. Custom Boxes and Company SWAG
Including some company SWAG (Stuff We All Get) in the welcome gifts is a great way to build rapport with new employees and pride for the company. You can even take it up a notch by having the names of new employees engraved on otherwise generic company SWAG. Personalizing company gear is a fantastic opportunity to give the gifts a more meaningful feel.
For those delectable treats that are better off eaten than showcased, you can build the perfect assortment using Unboxme's customized welcoming kit.
Choose your box, select your goodies, and then write the perfect welcoming note, acknowledging and encouraging them on their new chapter with the company.
3. Happy Hour
It's common knowledge that the best way to unwind with friends and coworkers at the end of the workday is to take advantage of lower-priced beverages and food offered during Happy Hour. The value of company happy hours in recruiting and retaining top talent is widely acknowledged. Many companies have even started hosting them as a bonus for their staff.
While there are certainly some fantastic benefits to taking the team out for Happy Hour when they start their new position, you can add a more personal touch with Unboxme’s Happy Hour gift box!
This personal box is filled with yummy bourbon gummy bears and the Moscow Mule mixer is perfect for vodka and ginger beer enthusiasts. Plus, the popcorn is great for keeping up those energy levels until lunch.
Just be sure the employees you’re giving this box to will actually enjoy an alcohol-related gift. Remember, not everyone drinks. This gift is suggested when you know drinking is part of their current lifestyle and that they will care for this kind of gift.
4. Suit & Tie
If you want to give a gift to a new employee that is not only practical but will also leave a lasting impression, Unboxme's Suit & Tie set is the perfect option.
Expertly curated, this new hire welcome kit contains an elegant felt pen set which is great to include on a desk or inside their work bag. Pens are symbolic, representing freedom of thought, creativity, and professionalism, among other things. What better way to start their new career within the company than knowing their expression is valued? Plus, who doesn't like to write with a felt pen?
The set also includes a notepad and Bergamot & Grapefruit Bar Soap so they can look and feel good on and off the job. And with a name like Suit and Tie, you know this gift is a classic.
5. One of a Kind
Promoting and maintaining a culture of positivity in the workplace is essential. Our moods are contagious, so when we're not feeling our best, others on the team can feel it. You also can't perform your best work when you're in a negative headspace.
So how do we foster positivity in your organization and with new hires?
To start, consider gifting new employees with a gratitude journal. Keeping a gratitude notebook or simply acknowledging things you're glad for each day helps you stay optimistic at work.
Including the One of a Kind gift box in your new hire welcome kit is a great way to promote this concept to new employees and get the whole team excited about sharing what they feel great about each day.
If you want new employees to feel a culture of positivity within your organization, a guided notepad, cleansing candle, chocolate, and pen set are the perfect gift. Once gifted, encourage new hires, along with individuals on the team to list three positive things that happened during their work day. You can also encourage them to list their goals and dreams regarding their team and their future with the company. Let them know that while they are free to share these thoughts with others at the office, the purpose is self-reflection.
The gifts in this box promote calmness and reflection, two things every member of the team needs to stay level-headed in the workplace. What greater gift than for new employees to look over these pages and see how their thoughts and feelings have evolved throughout the year?
6. Thank You
Are you trying to figure out the best way to introduce a new employee to the team? To begin, try to see things from their point of view.
Transitioning into a position at a new workplace might feel a lot like starting a new school year. Sure, you'll get the rundown on where your desk is and what subjects you'll be taking, but what you really want to know is everything about the company culture.
A positive onboarding experience sets the stage for what's to come. If new employees feel like they are walking into an environment where they are not only acknowledged but also celebrated, new hires will feel like they're in the right place. It has also been shown to increase the likelihood of employees remaining with a company for at least three years.
A well-written thank you note to a new hire can do wonders to establish rapport, integrate them into the team, and set the tone for a productive first few months on the job.
So why not go above and beyond?
If you want to make the new hires truly feel welcomed and valued, give them Unboxme's Thank You box, filled with every little item they didn’t realize they needed.
This isn’t your basic box of chocolates either. This gift includes decadent caramels, a linen notebook, and luxurious hand cream, all tastefully curated. It’s hard for the bar to not be set high with this gift.
7. But First, Coffee
The majority of us start our days with a steaming mug of coffee, whether we're at the workplace or not.
It's no surprise that coffee has such a significant impact on work culture. Caffeine promotes adrenaline production and alters our state of wakefulness, making us feel more alert while we work on daily tasks.
Coffee breaks are a social norm in many workplaces, becoming an integral element of office life. In addition, drinking coffee with others in the office provides a welcome opportunity for reflection and the exchange of ideas on ongoing projects.
When we start our day off with our favorite Cup of Joe, we feel like we can accomplish more in less time and with higher quality results. But when we don’t have our cup first thing in the morning… Well, that’s another story.
Give your new hire kit the jolt it needs with Unboxme’s But First, Coffee box. Vietnamese pour-over coffee, a lovely ceramic mug, and a variety of tasty snacks combine to create a wonderful welcome kit for any coffee connoisseur.
This is the perfect gift for a new hire that drinks coffee every day and likes to explore new java blends. There are also a few delectable treats that when paired with the coffee will enhance the experience. Once a new hire tries the items in this box, they will want to savor the flavors over and over again.
8. Afternoon Tea
There is always time for tea! In recent years, the custom of afternoon tea has been updated, and as a result, nearly all businesses in various industries are participating in the trend by hosting their own versions of it. Some of these businesses even compete with one another to provide the most innovative variations on the classic.
But there's more to afternoon tea than merely wanting to feel like you’re part of high society. We feel better when we drink tea, and for good reason. There is an amino acid in tea that produces a calming effect, which improves our mood. Tea can really come in handy when you’re feeling stressed or putting in extra hours at the office.
Unboxme's Afternoon Tea box is a great gift, whether a new hire is a tea enthusiast or indulging in tea for the first time.
New hires can relax with a cup of sencha pomegranate green tea while snacking on apricot jam cookies and chocolates. Give the team's newest additions this little afternoon pick-me-up to finish the day strong, or simply enjoy it in the comfort of their own home.
Build a Relationship with Unboxme
When an employee joins your team, a new hire welcome kit that contains essential tools and information about the organization is a perfect way to make a great first impression. As you build your kit, ensure it includes a guide to your company culture, information about your products and services, and tips for integrating into the team.
If you really want the box to be memorable, include a few unique gifts that will speak to their hearts. After all, you want your new hires to feel like they're part of the family, and the best way to do that is with Unboxme. We offer everything your company needs to create a warm and welcoming environment for your new hire.