There are a few things more exciting than someone new joining the team. You can never truly know just what kind of an experience they will be having in your organization but a positive first step never hurts. Employee welcome kits are a tried and tested way to make sure your new hires know just how excited you are to have them.
The first day on the job can be stressful for everybody. That stress, stemming from being in an unfamiliar environment, can easily be negated if you make a great first impression. And remember: You only get one of those.
New hire welcome kits are an essential step in the process of onboarding new hires. The onboarding process might take a lot longer than the first day itself but any employee will tell you that the first day just might be the most influential step in of the onboarding journey.
So in this article, we will be looking at:
What you should put inside your employee welcome kits + 15 welcome pack ideas for new employees!
Let’s dive right in!
One thing that belongs in every welcome kit for new employees, no matter which direction you choose to go with, is a welcome letter. The written word is far from being gone! Instead, the rarity of someone writing an actual letter makes well-written welcome letters a great option to both surprise and engage your new hires.
Including a welcome letter in your new employee welcome kit is only effective if the letter you prepare feels genuine and unique. If your employee reads something that sounds copied and pasted, then your welcome letter is as good as a random piece of paper.
If you take the time to learn about the new hire you are onboarding and write a personalized letter for them, telling them just how excited you are to have them in your team, you will start off on the right foot for sure.
Why do humans buy jerseys or band t-shirts? Because we want to feel like we are a part of something that is larger than us. Including custom new hire swag in your welcome kit is a great way to say “Hey! You are part of the team now.”.
We know that the term “Company swag” is a bit broad. In all honesty, Company swag can include things like t-shirts, water bottles, hats, or other branded merchandise.
Giving away company swag in your employee welcome kit can have incredibly positive effects on your employees such as:
A great idea when creating a new hire welcome kit is to carefully consider what is going to be going inside those packages. You can’t slap a corporate logo on a random item and call it company swag. When picking out company swag for a new hire welcome kit, one thing to keep in mind is function. You should always ask yourself;
Is this thing going to be useful or will it be thrown away after a couple of minutes of courtesy ownership?
Your new hire welcome kits can’t be all fun and games can they? They are also a great way to do some housekeeping and take some workload off of your employee onboarding process. A company handbook, presenting your new hires with information on how your organization does things is a very clever way to start the onboarding process, without actually starting it!
The bottom line is, every company has its own set of policies and procedures, and a company handbook is the best way to get new employees familiar with them. Make sure to include information on everything from vacation policies to employee benefits. This way, new employees can hit the ground running and feel confident in their new role.
Company culture guide isn’t the same thing as a company handbook? Oddly enough, it isn’t! If your company handbook is focused on “What” your organization does, then the culture guide is probably more concerned with the “How?” and “Why?” of it all.
Your company culture is what sets you apart from other businesses, so it’s important to make sure new hires understand what makes your company tick. Including a guide that outlines your company’s values, mission, and vision can help new employees feel like they are part of something bigger and help them align their work with your company’s goals.
Are mugs a bit of a cliche at this point? Sure. Are they still one of the best workplace gifts ever invented? Yes to the yes to the power of yes! Gift mugs can come in a variety of styles, sizes, and colors. You can choose a classic ceramic mug, a stylish travel mug, or even a fun novelty mug that reflects the company’s personality. Some companies also include other goodies inside the mug, such as packets of hot cocoa, tea bags, or even a small plant or succulent.
Whether you are presenting your employees with a stylish mug that they can display on their desks proudly, or a strange one they carry around ironically, mugs will always be some of the best options to add to your employee welcome kit.
Two coffee-centric entries back to back? You better believe it! Because guess what? The modern workplace is fueled by a great many things and coffee is one of them! Including a free coffee gift card is a simple but thoughtful way to make new hires feel welcomed and appreciated. It’s like saying, “Hey, we know starting a new job can be stressful, but here’s a little something to help you get through the day (or at least the morning).”
A great way to map this out is to start a relationship with a nearby coffee house. When you form a relationship with a coffee house near your office, you are giving your team their very own Central Perk or Mclaren’s pub. It is an absolutely brilliant way to build a strong company culture.
It is time to get creative. Custom stickers are easy to mass produce and they take up so little space it is hilarious that not every organization has them in their employee welcome kits. Once again, we are playing the “Let’s create a sense of identity and belonging.” here but this time it is a simple and helpful decision to make.
We all carry around massive amounts of technology with us day in and day out. Do you know what those boring laptop covers can use? Some fun and creative stickers that help you represent your organization with ease.
Having playlists in your organization is always a good idea. Including them in your welcome kits for new hires is a great idea. Yet a simple playlist just won’t do. Instead, why not give the employee full access to the team playlist and ask them to add their own to the mix?
This is absolutely a gamble, expecting team members to have a similar music taste to you. Either way, if a new hire gets access to the playlist, then it shows that everyone will get to edit the playlist at some point.
Merch—>Good. Tech merch —> Better! If there is one thing we all love more than company swag or regular merch, it is techy Macguffins that make our slightly easier. From power banks to branded mag safe phone cases, to headphones, you should definitely include at least one tech related item in your new employee welcome kit.
In today’s digital age, there are so many amazing subscription services out there that can make our lives easier, more productive, and more enjoyable. Subscriptions are one of those things that we all have so many of, yet still need more of. Why not give your new employees the gift of a subscription of their choice in their welcome kit?
It could be anything from a meal delivery service to a fitness app to a magazine subscription. It’s a thoughtful gesture that shows you care about their personal interests and well-being, and it’s also a great way to encourage them to take some time for themselves outside of work.
Not everything can be about your new hires! You need to plug your social media accounts inside your welcome kit. Besides, if they have been hired, yet still aren’t following your company on various social networks…What are they doing?
A simple card with all of your social media tags and details should do the trick here. Including social media information in your employee welcome kit can be a great way to help new hires get connected and engaged with their colleagues and the wider community. You could include links to the company’s social media profiles, as well as relevant hashtags or groups to follow.
Kickstart your new hire’s journey with a fun team-building or icebreaker kit! Fill it with cards featuring quirky questions, challenges, or conversation starters that they can use in their first team meetings. It's a playful and easy way to help them connect with colleagues and feel right at home from day one!
Let's face it: accidents happen, and it’s always better to be prepared. Including a small, branded emergency or first-aid kit in your welcome kit is a thoughtful and practical way to show you care about your new hire’s well-being. You don’t need to overdo it—just include the essentials like band-aids, pain relievers, hand sanitizer, and disinfecting wipes. It’s a simple but effective gesture that lets your new team member know you’ve got their back from day one, helping them feel safe, supported, and ready to tackle their new role!
Adding a parking pass or public transit card to your welcome kit is a simple yet thoughtful way to make your new hire’s transition a little easier. It’s a small convenience that shows you’re mindful of the challenges they might face and that you’re committed to supporting them from the start. Taking care of the little things helps them focus on what really matters, getting excited about their new role!
Start your new hire's journey with a touch of personalization by including a custom lanyard or ID badge holder in their welcome kit. It’s a quick and easy way to help them feel like part of the team. Personalize it with their name and role, and watch how it turns a simple accessory into a proud symbol of belonging as they step into their new role with confidence.
Successfully onboarding new employees goes beyond handing out welcome kits. While a thoughtfully curated kit can make a great first impression, the real key to long-term engagement and productivity lies in creating a comprehensive onboarding experience. This means providing the tools, resources, and structure new hires need to acclimate to their roles and your organization.
Including employee welcome packs in your onboarding process is a great way to make new hires feel special and valued. But let’s be real, welcome kits alone can’t do the heavy lifting. They need to be part of an effective onboarding process that sets your employees up for success. After all, a shiny welcome kit won’t mean much if the rest of the onboarding experience feels disorganized.
That’s where Teamflect comes in. It works smoothly with Microsoft Teams and offers a bunch of useful features that make onboarding faster, easier, and more engaging.
Here’s how Teamflect can streamline your onboarding process, setting up your new hires for success from day one:
1. Onboarding Employees Made Easy
Onboarding can be tricky, but Teamflect makes it simple. With automated tasks, onboarding surveys, and 30-60-90 day reviews, Teamflect ensures that your remote employees feel connected and guided, even from afar. It’s the kind of smooth, seamless onboarding that helps remote hires hit the ground running.
2. Fully Automated Onboarding Process
No more spreadsheets or juggling endless manual tasks. Teamflect automates every step of the onboarding journey, from task assignments to feedback collection and review scheduling. This allows you to focus on building meaningful connections with your new hires, while Teamflect takes care of the details.
3. Customizable Review Templates
Every organization is different, and Teamflect gets that. Its customizable onboarding review templates allow you to tailor the experience to fit your organizational culture and goals. Whether it’s for setting expectations or tracking progress, these templates help ensure the process aligns with your needs.
4. Buddy and Mentorship Programs
Starting a new job can feel overwhelming, and having someone to guide you makes all the difference. Teamflect makes it easy to set up buddy or mentorship programs, pairing new hires with experienced team members who offer support and guidance, helping them feel welcome and confident in their new role.
With Teamflect, you’re not just offering a welcome kit, you’re offering a complete, thoughtful onboarding experience that helps new employees feel excited about their new role from the very start!
Which company provides the best employee welcome pack? Let’s find out!
Impressm is an Australia-based company that lets you create custom employee swag kits any way you choose. Not only do they have a great catalog of gifts to choose from, but they also give you the option to create your customized branded merch. We are particularly fond of their branded swag packs that include anything from tote bags to t-shirts. They also have Moleskine notebooks available and this particular writer has a soft spot for those beautiful overpriced notebooks.
Three words: Custom Mobile Office Kit. Apologies. Four words. We were too busy admiring this well-thought-out employee welcoming kit by Corporate Gift. One of the great benefits of remote team management is that your team can work from anywhere they choose and still be productive. This nifty little kit not only provides them with the resources to do that but also sends out a pretty simple and effective from the very first day: “Fly away! Be free!”
The Teamflect blog team had a blast going through websites with custom employee welcome kit options. All of our wishlists are full. If we have to be honest, we were at our giddiest when we saw that Carroo has Happy Socks in their gifts catalog. They also have a very easy-to-use website that lets you browse gift options with ease
Don’t let the overuse of the word “Swag.” fool you. When it comes to welcome pack ideas, merch, and well, swag, Swag.com is one of the best options you can go for. They are in fact one the most high-end gift-giving companies you might find.
Trusted by massive corporations such as Disney, Pepsi, Microsoft, and Nickelodeon, Swag.com has a catalog filled with incredible brands, ranging from JBL to North Face. They also offer a plethora of other services such as curating your company stores and automated gift-giving services.
Personalization takes the onboarding experience to the next level. It’s all about creating a connection that says, “We’re excited to have you on board!”
Adding personal touches, like their name on a notebook or a welcome note written just for them, shows that you’ve gone the extra mile to make them feel included. Employee onboarding kits shows that your organization has put effort into making them feel welcomed right from the start. Personal touches, like including a handwritten note or customizing items with their preferences, send a clear message that they’re not just another employee, they’re an important part of the team.
After all, when employees feel valued, they’re more likely to feel motivated and excited about contributing to the team.
Personalized Welcome Letter: A heartfelt message is a personal touch that makes a significant impact in a welcome pack for new employees.
Branded Apparel: A staple in the best employee welcome kits, branded apparel like a hoodie with both the company logo and their name can make them feel like part of the team while giving them something unique to wear proudly.
Custom Notebook and Pen: A classic new employee welcome kit example that encourages creativity and productivity right from the start.
Engraved Mugs: Whether it’s a sleek stainless steel water bottle or a cozy coffee mug, engraving their name adds a thoughtful touch they’ll appreciate.
Individualized Wellness Kits: A wellness package tailored to their preferences, such as tea blends, aromatherapy oils, or stress balls, can show you care about their well-being from day one.
If you’re welcoming new team members, here are some creative welcome kit ideas to help inspire your organization’s onboarding experience.
Eco-Friendly Water Bottle: This addition to your welcome kit for employees not only promotes hydration but also your company’s commitment to sustainability.
Tech Gadgets: Enhance their workspace with practical tech accessories, a sought-after component in employee welcome package ideas.
Desk Plant: Adding a bit of greenery is a refreshing welcome kit idea that can brighten up any workspace.
Healthy Snacks: Show you care about their well-being with a selection of healthy snacks, a popular choice in welcome kit ideas for employees.
Coffee or Tea Sampler: A delightful addition to welcome kits that helps new hires find their favorite office beverage.
Inspirational Books: Reflect your company’s values and inspire professional growth with a thoughtfully chosen book in your new employee welcome kit.
Office Supply Kit: Make their desk setup fun and functional with unique supplies, a creative new employee welcome kit idea.
Fitness Gear: Encourage a healthy lifestyle with fitness-related items, an innovative welcome kit for new employees.
Interactive Office Map: Help them navigate the workspace with a creative map, a unique feature in the best employee welcome kits.
Stress Relief Items: Promote well-being with stress-relief items, a thoughtful inclusion in any welcome kit for employees.
Local Guide: Especially useful for relocating employees, a local guide is a thoughtful employee welcome package idea.
Work-From-Home Essentials: For remote employees, items that enhance their home office are essential welcome kit ideas.
Interactive Welcome Experience: Incorporating technology can turn a simple welcome kit into an engaging experience.
Professional Development Voucher: Show investment in their growth with a course or workshop voucher, an advanced employee welcome package idea.
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