Introducing an onboarding kit for new employees

Your first day in a new job is always exciting, but it can also be overwhelming - especially now that so many of us are working from home. There’s no office tour, no colleagues to shadow and no connection-building lunch hours. But that’s where an onboarding kit comes in.

Why provide a welcome kit to new hires?

Onboarding kits are a great way to warmly welcome new team members - whether they’re working at home or in the office. They can promote employee loyalty from day one and keep new hires feeling excited about their new role.

Beyond this, a well designed welcome kit helps new hires settle in faster. This nurtures confidence, affinity to the role and, ultimately, productivity.

On the other hand, if you’re unprepared, new employees may feel burdensome. A good onboarding kit will give them plenty to read and do if left alone, which is particularly important in a remote world.

Onboarding kit ideas

An onboarding kit for new employees doesn’t need to be extravagant - it just needs to be thoughtful. It’s all about making new hires feel welcomed, prepared and happy to be part of your team. Ask yourself:

What do they need to know?
What do I want to communicate?
And what will make them feel part of the team?

Your onboarding kit can include some practical supplies and paperwork, but it should also be fun, informative and on-brand.

The practical

While you don’t want to inundate new hires with reading materials, printing out ‘need to know’ information can be helpful.

The paperwork: You may want to share a hard copy of their contract, any NDAs they signed and some emergency contacts.
An employee handbook: This should set out policies around dress code, expectations, targets, working hours, and work-from-home guidelines. Including an index will make it a good reference document.
An onboarding checklist: Explain what they need to read, sign and set up.
Access and logins: Provide passwords for their computer and any accounts they need access to. If you’re office-based, think about WiFi codes, IDs, fobs and access cards too.
Home office equipment: For remote onboarding, make sure everyone has what they need to work safely.

The informative

In remote environments, it’s particularly important that your onboarding kit includes some of the nitty, gritty details of everyday life at your company. Why? Well, because it’s harder for new hires to learn from colleagues or ask them informal questions.

Details on company culture: Provide a motivational reminder of what your company is all about. Communicate your core values and vision.
Development opportunities: Let new hires know about training and development at your company. Showing off why it’s a great place to work will make sure they feel good about their new role.
A short fact sheet: It’s hard to remember the countless colleagues you meet on your first day - particularly, if you’ve been introduced over a video call. So lay out some details about your company’s different departments and team members.
Extra help: Your onboarding kits should feature helpful content to help new hires in their roles. For marketers, you could include your brand playbook. For graphic designers, you could print out a past project you’re proud of.

The fun

As well as being helpful, your welcome kit should communicate your company’s personality.

Company swag: Popular choices are mugs, stationery and water bottles. But stickers are a cheap and cheerful alternative, while t-shirts are great if you run virtual happy hours. Branded gifts will help make new hires feel like part of the company - even if they’re working at home.
Business cards: This is a surefire way to make someone feel like part of the team.
Interesting industry reads: A good book can inspire and teach new hires, while also saying a lot about your values. It should provide a great conversation starter too!
Meetup maps: It’s nice to let new hires know where members of the team like to grab coffee or hang out - especially if they’re new to the area.
A welcome letter: A handwritten note from a team member will show new hires that they’ve joined a company that truly cares. A ‘welcome to the team’ and details of what they can expect during their first week is all you need to include.

Speak to Prosperity

In a remote world, onboarding kits are a simple way to engage with new employees. If you’re looking for more details on how to improve engagement, onboarding or retention for your business, feel free to contact our expert team for advice.

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