Let’s be honest: Onboarding a new employee is always a lot of work.
Onboarding a new employee during a time when lots of companies and organizations are still (at least some of the time) working remotely, though, makes it even trickier to get your new hire up to speed, feeling like a part of the team, and incorporated into company culture.
Putting thought and attention into your onboarding process pays dividends for both employees and employers when done correctly:
- Effective onboarding engages your employees, and engaged employees are 87% less likely to leave their company
- Research suggests that organizations with a robust onboarding process were likely to improve new hire retention by up to 82%
- Replacing an employee can cost up to 213% of that employee’s salary
Dang. So where’s a hiring manager to start?
Use New Employee Welcome Gifts
One easy-to-do gesture that will go a long way is providing welcome gifts for new hires.
Making a new employee welcome gift part of your onboarding package will help any newly-hired team member walk into the office (or hop onto that first Zoom call) feeling appreciated, excited, and, well, welcome.
New hire welcome kits put your money where your mouth is and communicate your values in a tangible way.
A well-done welcome package will:
- Include items that are thoughtful, strategic, and speak to your company’s values
- Not include tchotchkes that are likely to be thrown away and become waste
- Include some level of personalization, be it for the individual, the department, etc.
- Feature company branding
- Come with a clear message about why the new employee welcome package is being given
Welcome packages can (and probably should) include practical items that your new hire will find useful on the job, but feel free to also have a little fun and give your new hire kit a bit of pizzazz that will make your company stand out from the legal pad and abacus crowd (no offense, actuaries).
Want to learn more about what a welcome package can/should do? Our friends at Element Three break down their philosophy on employee onboarding gifts in this blog post.
Your new hire has presumably already made a good first impression on you (if not, it’s time to rethink your hiring practices), so intentionally curating an employee welcome kit that accomplishes the above is your chance to start things off right with the new employee and help them feel enthusiastic and assimilated from day one.
Ideas for New Employee Welcome Gifts
Branded Swag
Who doesn’t love some new hire swag?
Company Branded T-Shirt
Give a classic custom t-shirt to help your new hire feel like a part of the team. The better the quality and design, the more likely that shirt is to be rocked outside of the (home) office.
Company Branded Bag
A backpack or custom tote bag is another easy-to-customize item that’s sure to be useful to anyone. Whether big or small, zip or drawstring, a bag is sure to be used early and often when your new hire is going from Point A to Point B, no matter how long the commute. They're also the perfect carrying case for the rest of the branded swag you give your employee on their first day. Win-win.
Company Branded Hat
Hats come in all shapes and sizes, too, which gives a lot of options for swag. There’s always the tried-and-true flat-brim baseball cap, but if you’re a little more laid back, you could opt for a trucker hat or even a beanie.
Home/Office Goods
There are plenty of gifts that will look good in a cubicle or in a living room, while also serving a functional purpose.
- Coffee mugs are a crowd pleasure for good reason. Even if your new hire doesn’t drink coffee, the mugs could be used for tea or any other hot beverage.
- Similarly, water bottles are universally useful (not to mention sustainable). A fellow Orlando business, Corkcicle, is a fan favorite as far as water bottles go. Check out these totes we printed for them, too:
- Candles? Why not! They make a fun addition to any employee welcome kit, and will liven up any musty office space.
- Snack boxes are increasingly popular gifts. They’re easy to customize to taste, making them a good way to offer a personal touch.
Gifts that Communicate Company Culture
- These gifts offer you an opportunity to get creative with what you include in your welcome kit.
- It’s always a good idea to include a welcome note (preferably handwritten) in any new hire welcome package. The note should come from the new hire’s manager, a division lead, or even the leader of the company and explain why the new hire is such a welcome addition to the team.
- Does your team prioritize wellness? Yoga mats, exercise equipment and clothes, or subscriptions to meditation apps would all show your new employee that you take their physical and mental wellbeing seriously.
- Is your company environmentally-conscious? Consider including sustainable swag like reusable silicone bags or metal straws.
Side note: Want to bring your passion for sustainability into your next custom apparel purpose? We can help with that—check out our selection of eco-friendly custom t-shirts.
Final Thoughts
Whatever your budget is, remember what the goals are for any new employee welcome gifts:
- Make your new employee feel engaged and appreciated;
- Send a message about what your company’s all about.
If you add a personal touch and keep those goals in mind, you’re sure to make an impression on your new hire.
They may even share their new hire welcome kit on LinkedIn, Instagram, or other social media channels!
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