When welcoming new employees to your company, the goal is to make them feel as comfortable as possible in those first few overwhelming days — because it’s no secret that starting a new job comes with both excitement AND nerves. Creating a welcoming environment right from the start will help to ease a new hire into their new environment without the nerves, though, and offering some sort of welcome gift will help ease them into their new role with even more excitement than before. Simple enough, right?
But how do you actually go about this, and what exactly do you need?
The Welcome Gifts
Welcome gifts are a way to make new hires feel valued for joining a company, with the best welcome gifts being high-quality to mirror what your company and its employees represent. These gifts often include specially chosen items that new employees find practical and useful on the job, such as day planners and company pens. But, welcome gifts can be a lot more than just office supplies! Novelty gifts for new hires provide a fun, more personalized way to welcome and introduce your company and its unique culture — so consider new hire novelty gifts and company swag like:
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Funny Mugs
Depending on the mug of choice, funny mugs can create a feeling of belonging by getting a new employee in on a joke or trend that only their new coworkers would understand! Not only will this encourage a feeling of belonging, but hopefully even encourage new friendships to form as others explain the lore or company culture behind it!
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Corporate Clothing
Wearables always make a wonderful gift, especially from your employer! Most people don’t expect to love the gifts they get from employers or even be able to use them much, but wearables are exciting to receive, will be well-used and will really celebrate the coming-together of them and the company. Among the best company swag is corporate socks, shirts, sweatshirts and hats — whether they be branded with the company’s logo or simply your colors. Any of these options will let your new employee know that you’re proud to have them on the team and allow them to feel proud of joining and becoming a part of something bigger.
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Desk Accessories
Whether you take the fun route and help them ease and settle into the environment by gifting them fun desk accessories like a novelty pack of pens and funny sticky notes or you take the more sentimental route and give them a personalized desk accessory like a custom nameplate and plant — the gesture will be majorly meaningful!
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Reusable Water Bottle
A stylish reusable water bottle is an exciting gift to receive and will let your new employee know that you value their health and wellbeing above anything else. If you’re unsure of what style may suit your new employee, don’t forget that company colors or branding are always appreciated!
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The Welcome Kit
An important element of onboarding for new hires is to provide them with a welcome package. This warm and welcoming package is usually given to new hires on their very first day on the job and is meant to create a welcoming environment that says “we’re happy you’re here, and we’re happy to help you settle in and excel however we can!” A new hire welcome kit should incorporate a variety of information and items they’ll inevitably need or want while they’re at work, but commonly include:
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Welcoming Letter of Introduction
A personalized letter of introduction is a great way to welcome a new employee to the team. Receiving a personalized message from your boss can go a long way towards feeling like a valued member of the company, whether it includes specific information about your new job, a history of the company, or tips for success. Additional personalized messages, though, such as why a new employee was chosen to take on this role, will take a letter of introduction to the next level.
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Office Guidelines and Policies
Providing your new employee with easily accessible and clearly written office guidelines and policies will help them significantly when it comes to transitioning into their new role. This document could include information on dress codes, how to set up company passwords, who you should call about IT issues, how to call in sick, what the payroll schedule is and more, but should be easy to digest and answer any of the questions that a new employee likely forgot to ask during their interview or orientation.
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Organizational Chart and/or Company Directory
An organizational chart provides a visual outline of who is responsible for each department. On the first few days of a job it can be confusing to know who is responsible for what and who you can approach, so having this information clearly defined will simplify the introductory process. Organizational charts not only list the company’s key players but can also help a new hire see where they fit into the overall structure of the organization. In addition to the organizational chart, a company directory provides a quick guide to the role each employee plays within the company and will absolutely be used and appreciated! Along with this, assigning your new hire a “buddy” (even if it’s their supervisor or manager) to help them out and be a highly approachable figure is always a good idea!
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Calendar of Company Events
A company events calendar may seem insignificant at the moment, but will help a new hire plan their schedule to attend desired events, as well as help to create a sense of community and allow them to see where they might fit into the larger company culture!
A Clear Job Description
Probably the most important element of joining a new company is knowing exactly what your job will entail. Having a clear job description on hand will help a new employee begin to understand what their role is going to be within the larger structure of the organization. The job description should cover current tasks, but may also include training goals, potential areas of development and opportunities for future advancement. After all — how does a new employee feel welcome and comfortable if they don’t even know what they’re getting into?
What the Warm Welcome is Really All About
Ultimately, letting your employee know what they’re getting into is what making them feel welcome is all about. Letting them know the job, the team and the culture that they’re getting into — before they’ve been fully thrown into it! Aside from all of this, the best thing you can do as a company is of course:
Give them a warm and literal welcome!
