Looking to set the tone for a successful partnership with your new hires from the very start? Then you should consider creating a welcome kit.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

• The essence of a new employee welcome kit and its impact on company culture and retention.
• A curated list of must-have items that embody your company’s values and the practical needs of new hires.
• Innovative ideas for welcome packages tailored to hybrid or remote employees.
• Real-world examples to inspire your own welcome kits.

So, get ready to make an unforgettable first impression on your new hires with your welcome kits.

Table of Contents

What Is a New Employee Welcome Kit?

Benefits of a New Hire Welcome Kit

10 Items to Include in a New Employee Welcome Kit

Welcome Packages for Hybrid or Remote Employees

Best Practices for Putting Together Welcome Kits

Real-Life Welcome Kit Examples

What Is a New Employee Welcome Kit?

A new employee welcome kit serves as an introductory chapter of an employee’s journey with your company.

It’s like blending in a warm welcome with your employee orientation to lay the foundation for a positive work environment.

The welcome kit can include essentials like:

• A welcome letter.
• An employee handbook detailing company policies and benefits.
• A dash of company swag to create immediate connection and pride in the company brand.

From my experience, welcome kits play a crucial role in making new hires feel genuinely valued and welcomed from day one. 

They can also serve as a tangible expression of your company’s culture and the value you place on team members.

Beyond the basics, a welcome kit can be a powerful tool for cultivating a positive employee experience right from the start. 

Based on research, 70% of team members who had exceptional onboarding experiences say they have “the best possible job.”

So, adding high-quality, practical merchandise like custom notebooks or eco-friendly merch, can further enhance your new hire’s onboarding experience.

Benefits of a New Hire Welcome Kit

A new employee welcome kit does more than just put a smile on the faces of your newest team members. 

It’s a strategic tool that can benefit both the employee and your organization. 

Here’s how a well-assembled welcome kit can make a significant impact.

• It speeds up the onboarding process: Based on research, new hires who experience badly planned onboarding may decide that it was a mistake to take the new job. 

Including items like an employee handbook and customized office supplies in welcome kits will provide your new hires with what they need to dive into their roles. 

This pre-emptive measure will smoothen their transition into their new role and the company culture. 

• It boosts employee satisfaction: The effort and thought you put into assembling a welcome kit reflects your company’s commitment to its employees’ happiness and well-being. 

According to Paychex, only 52% of new hires feel satisfied with their onboarding experience.

So, adding a personalized welcome kit can help you turn a standard onboarding process into a memorable experience.

• It enhances company culture integration: Amy Hirsch Robinson, principal of The Interchange Group, emphasizes that “Onboarding is a magic moment, when new employees decide to stay engaged or become disengaged.”

This highlights the pivotal role that onboarding — and by extension, welcome kits — play in setting the tone for an employee’s journey within your company. 

By curating items that resonate with your company’s spirit, your new employees will grasp what you stand for. 

Author’s note: High-quality welcome gifts often get shared on social media platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn — enhancing your company’s reputation as an employer that values its staff. 

Source: LinkedIn

This not only enhances your employer brand but also signals to prospective candidates the level of care and investment your company places in its people.

Wanna know what items to include in your new employee welcome kit? 

Take a look at the top 10 items you can include.

10 Items to Include in a New Employee Welcome Kit

Creating a new employee welcome pack is an essential step in the onboarding process as it offers a tangible expression of your company’s culture and values. 

Here are the key items that can help new hires feel prepared, welcomed, and connected from their very first day. 

1. Welcome letter or note

A personalized letter from the CEO or direct supervisor can make a big difference. 

It sets a warm tone and shows that the company values each individual who joins the team.

Based on my experience, personalized gestures significantly boost a new hire’s sense of belonging and motivation.

Go beyond general welcomes and touch on the company’s vision, the unique culture, and how the individual’s role aligns with larger goals. 

Plus, including a handwritten note adds a personal touch that digital communications simply can’t match. 

As People Operations Executive, Anna Petosa, put it when asked about a welcome kit that positively influenced a new hire’s integration into the company culture, she said:

“One memorable example involved including a personalized journal in our welcome kits, accompanied by a handwritten note from the team leader. This simple gesture had a profound impact on a new hire, who later shared that it made them feel instantly connected and valued by their team. 

It was more than just a journal; it was a message that their thoughts and contributions were important to us. This item not only helped in integrating the new hire into our company culture but also positively shaped their perception of the company as one that truly cares about its people. ”

2. Employee handbook

An employee handbook is a comprehensive guide that acquaints new hires with the values, expectations, and ethos of their new workplace. 

This document plays a key role in your employee onboarding kit as it’s a reference point for company culture, procedures, and mutual responsibilities.

While the employee handbook can outline practical information like HR policies, benefits, and workplace guidelines, its delivery can greatly influence a new employee’s engagement.

To make this document more digestible and engaging, consider including welcome messages from leadership, quotes from current employees, and highlights of company achievements. 

These elements can transform the handbook from a dry list of do’s and don’ts into a compelling narrative about what it means to be part of the team.

3. Company swag

Company swag reminds employees of the community they have joined and plays a crucial role in instilling a sense of belonging.

The right mix of company swag will make your new hire feel welcomed and get them excited. 

You can include essential items like:

• Branded apparel — e.g., t-shirts and hoodies
• Practical goodies such as notebooks and pens
• Lifestyle products like water bottles and tote bags

Tip: Use SwagDrop to customize and order high-quality branded gifts that can leave a lasting impression on new hires.

4. Office supplies

Equipping your new employees with branded office supplies like notepads, custom pens, and sticky notes helps you blend practicality with a sense of belonging.

Plus, including office supplies in your welcome package offers a dual benefit. 

First, it immediately arms your new hire with essential tools for note-taking, planning, and organizing. 

Second, when you brand or customize these items, they reinforce the new employee’s connection to your brand. 

Tip: Visit SwagDrop’s shop to explore a range of customizable office supplies that can be tailored to match your company’s branding and values.

5. Tech essentials

Tech essentials enable new hires to dive into their work without unnecessary delays.

For remote employees, include items that can help enhance their home office setup, such as ergonomic mouse pads or high-quality webcams.

Plus, opt for items that truly reflect the quality and values of your company. For instance, eco-friendly tech swag can underscore your company’s commitment to sustainability. 

6. Company information pack

A company information pack offers insights into the company’s history, mission, values, and the people who drive its success. 

This pack can educate the new hire about the company and affirm their decision to join the workplace.

The company information pack should be thoughtfully curated to include a blend of essential and engaging content like:

• An overview of the company’s history.
• A message from the CEO or founder that reiterates the company’s vision and values.
• Detailed product/service descriptions. 
• An introduction to key team members or departments.
• Success stories or case studies that vividly illustrate the company’s impact.

Tip: To ensure the pack is engaging and not overwhelming, use a mix of formats — such as printed materials, digital links to videos, and interactive web pages. 

7. Contact list

Including a contact list in your new hire welcome kit can ease newcomers’ anxiety over whom to reach out to when they need specific information or support.

So, include direct lines, email addresses, and perhaps a brief description of each contact’s area of responsibility or expertise. 

For a personal touch, add photos or short bios to help new hires put faces to names. 

If your company has remote teams, indicate the location or time zone next to each contact to help prevent any confusion about when to reach out.

Plus, make this contact list accessible in both print and digital formats to help new employees find the information they need, anytime.

8. Welcome gift or treat

Adding a welcome gift or treat to your new employee welcome kit can be another way to show your company’s enthusiasm for the new team member’s arrival. 

The gift or treat could range from a snack box they can enjoy on the first day or a coffee shop gift card, to a personalized gift box. 

For a more lasting impact, also consider items that can easily fit into their work or personal life, like an elegant desk plant.

9. Benefits and perks overview

Understanding the benefits and perks available helps a new employee have a better long-term engagement with the company. 

Your benefits and perks overview should clearly outline:

• The health benefits.
• Retirement plans.
• Wellness programs.
• Any unique company perks, such as flexible working hours, remote work options, or educational opportunities.
• How to use these benefits, eligibility periods, and who to contact with questions.

Tip: Consider using infographics, bullet points, and clear headings to make the overview document easy to navigate and understand. 

10. Pre-onboarding survey

Implementing a survey during the pre-onboarding process helps you tailor the onboarding experience according to the unique needs of each new hire. 

When you gather insights before their start date, you can make informed decisions that enhance their initial experience.

This survey should cover a range of topics to better understand their expectations, learning styles, and personal interests. 

The questions you add can range from logistical preferences (e.g., start time, equipment needs) to more personal inquiries about their favorite color or hobbies. 

Welcome Packages for Hybrid or Remote Employees

Welcoming your hybrid or remote employees calls for a thoughtful approach that can bridge the physical distance. 

A well-curated welcome package can play a crucial role in achieving this.

For remote employees

Remote employees will appreciate a work-from-home kit with items that enhance their home office setup and simplify their daily routines. 

So, consider essentials like:

• High-quality, noise-canceling headphones
• A branded webcam with microphone
• Eco-friendly tumblers
• Custom hoodies
• A sleek, branded mouse pad

For Hybrid Employees

Since hybrid employees split their time between their home and the office, they also need flexible gifts. 

You can make your hybrid employees feel part of the team, no matter where they’re working from with items like: 

• A durable, branded tote bag
• A branded umbrella 
• A water bottle to stay hydrated on the go

Best Practices for Putting Together Welcome Kits

Here are some best practices to ensure your welcome kits hit the mark every time.

• Reflect your company culture: Choose items that represent your company’s personality and values. Whether it’s eco-friendly products if you’re a sustainability-focused firm or tech gadgets as a startup, make sure the kit resonates with what you stand for.

• Personalize where possible: Include a handwritten letter or tailor the welcome kit based on the new employee’s role and interests. This extra step shows you value them as individuals, not just as job titles.

• Cover the basics: Think about what a new hire might need during their first week. A mix of office supplies, technology tools, and company swag is also a great way to say “welcome to the team”.

• Ask for feedback: Use feedback from new hires to refine and improve your welcome kits. What did they find most useful? What could be added or changed? This kind of feedback loop can even help you come up with more fun ways to welcome new employees.

Real-Life Welcome Kit Examples

We’ve gone ahead to include real-life examples that can spark ideas for creating your own memorable welcome kits. 

Here are a few standout examples:

Example #1: Nike Welcome Box

Nike sets an impressive standard for how to make a memorable first impression on new employees.

The Nike welcome box includes essential items that any new employee would appreciate on their journey with the company, like:

• A branded coffee cup for their morning caffeine fix
• Earphones for those who love music or need to focus
• A calendar to keep track of their exciting new journey
• Stickers for personalizing their workspace or belongings
• A pin that symbolizes their official inclusion in the Nike family

From this example, companies can learn how to curate new hire welcome kits that not only include practical items but also capture the brand’s essence.

Example #2: LINE Friends Welcome Package

LINE showcases its brand identity through its welcome kit — serving as a testament to its commitment to excellence and team spirit.

The welcome kit’s recognition with a design award in 2019 marks the brand’s meticulous attention to detail and quality.

New employees are greeted with:

• A desk organizer set to keep their workspace tidy
• Custom LINE magnets for personalizing their work area
• A premium pencil set for sketching ideas and notes
• A stylish employee card case, blending utility with elegance
• Gift vouchers as a warm welcome gesture
• An exclusive sticker set featuring LINE Friends characters
• A personalized nameplate, establishing a sense of belonging from day one

Companies can take inspiration from LINE here on how to create welcome kits that make new hires feel valued and proud to be part of the team.

 Example #3: BYJU’S The Learning App Onboarding Kit

BYJU’S manages to strike the perfect balance between functionality and brand representation.

The BYJU’S onboarding kit is carefully assembled to ensure new employees have a smooth start with items like:

• A branded backpack for carrying work essentials
• A notebook for capturing ideas and notes
• An eco-friendly tote bag 
• A personalized mug
• An ID badge for office navigation and security

From this example, companies can learn how thoughtfully chosen items make new team members feel connected to the company’s mission.

Example #4: Nubank New Hire Kit

Nubank extends its innovative spirit to its onboarding process with a new hire kit that embodies the brand’s vibrant and welcoming culture.

New employees receive a pack filled with:

• Stickers, allowing for personal expression and brand ownership
• An employee handbook
• A welcome letter to establish a personal connection
• Various office supplies
• A coffee mug
• A tote bag
• A T-shirt

From Nubank’s example, companies can learn how to deliver a kit that caters to functional needs while forming an emotional connection with new hires.

Ready to Order Welcome Kits for Your New Employees?

From personalized items to branded swag, welcome kits play a major role in improving your onboarding experience.

Plus, giving a corporate gift to your new team members shows how invested you are in their career journey.

Ready to make your new hires feel truly welcomed and valued? 

Start building your new-hire swag packs today to set the stage for a successful and engaging onboarding process.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions when it comes to new hire welcome kits.

Q1. How can I personalize a welcome kit for new employees?

You can personalize welcome kits by including items that match the new hire’s role and interests. Plus, adding a handwritten note or customizing the swag with their name enhances the personal touch. Consider using SwagDrop to select and customize high-quality items with your company logo.

Q2. What are some effective ways to measure and improve onboarding satisfaction and retention?

Use surveys at different stages to gather feedback on the process. Regular check-ins with new hires can also provide insights into their experience and help refine your onboarding strategy.

Q3. How can a welcome kit impact new employee engagement and company culture?

A well-crafted welcome kit can boost new employee engagement by making them feel valued and part of the team from day one. 

Plus, it introduces them to your company culture and values, and builds a strong sense of belonging and alignment with the organization’s goals.

Q4. How much should a company budget for a new employee welcome kit?

Budgets for a welcome kit can vary, but companies typically spend between $20 to $100 per kit. 

Your investment might also depend on how you want to tailor your brand experience for your new hires. 

Plus, selecting items that are both meaningful and practical can maximize the impact of your budget.