Employee onboarding kits are swag bags for employees. They contain various promotional items. Some items are essential for the employee to do their job, such as branded apparel to serve as workplace uniforms; others are gifts that help them adapt, such as branded drinkware.
How you structure and give these gifts depends on the intended purpose and recipient:
Basic employee onboarding kits include branded apparel and workplace essentials, such as:
Put yourself in your employee’s shoes for a moment. You accept a new job offer and are excited to start, but you’re also apprehensive. You don’t know much about the workplace or your colleagues, but then you receive a welcome package.
It’s going to make you feel better about your job and your employees. You’re thankful. You’re eager to start. And, as a result, you’ll be more likely to sing the brand’s praises to friends and family.
It’s all about getting your employees off to the best possible start, and making them feel connected to the business from day one.
Remote workers are physically disconnected from the workplace, but they still work for you. You still need them. So, show your appreciation with an onboarding kit. Give them branded clothing to wear at home, even if they don’t need a uniform, and ensure they have drinkware for their morning tea/coffee and pens/notepads to take notes during work hours.
Employee onboarding kits may seem like a costly and even unnecessary expense, but they could reap some impressive rewards and increase your ROI in the long term.
Everyone loves a freebie. A stuffed welcome bag will quickly dispel any first-day nerves and give your employees a great first impression.
Every business needs a unique and clearly defined identity. You should have a strong brand voice and message, as well as an ethos that guides everything you do. With a design that matches your brand aesthetic and employees that dress the same and use the same items, branded products form a key part of your identity.
Whether you’re at an event or in a retail location, branded apparel and goods improve consistency throughout the brand. You’ll look more professional to prospective customers, and there’s no confusion regarding who’s a customer and who’s an employee.
Employee onboarding kits can include whatever you think your employees need, and those needs change from business to business. However, they typically include products such as:
T-shirts, hats, hoodies, gloves, and even jackets—branded apparel should be comfortable and wearable while clearly displaying your brand.
Everything that benefits your employees in the workplace. Include tote bags or backpacks if employees are required to bring items to the workplace; desk accessories for office spaces; and drinkware for hot and cold drinks.
Busy, modern workplaces should give employees tech accessories like laptop sleeves, chargers, and power banks. If your employees need webcams, include them as well. Gadgets and tech can be expensive, so focus on essential peripherals as opposed to costly electronics.
Finally, all employee onboarding kits should include literature on the brand. Your employees will be the ones dealing with customers, so make sure they know everything about your brand—your voice, your messaging, your identity, and your history.
Keep it short, simple, and digestible—any happiness they felt when they saw a free swag bag will quickly disappear when you ask them to read a massive, Tolkienesque tome.
Don’t exclude your remote workers. They might not be at the office every day, but they’re still an important part of your company. They work hard for you and represent your brand.
At Foxtrot Marketing, we offer various branded merchandise programs tailored toward brands of all sizes. We can help you plan, design, create, and ship promotional products in time for an event, and we can also set up a hub through which your employees can order items directly.
What’s more, if you have a large number of remote workers, we’ll work with you to make sure they have their onboarding kits as soon as they start work. What better way to get them excited about their first day than opening a swag bag filled to the brim with promotional items?
Receiving and shipping items directly may seem manageable at first, but what happens when you scale your business and hire more remote workers? Can you maintain those shipments while juggling everything else that goes along with running a business?
Our solutions are completely scalable. As your needs grow, our operations increase, and we can continue to assist you whether you’re managing a team of several or hundreds.
See our solutions page to learn more about our services and how they can benefit your business and employees.
It’s entirely up to you. Items vary by industry and business, but usually include at least one branded clothing item, as well as an employee handbook, and workplace essentials such as chargers, laptop sleeves, carrying cases/bags, drinkware, and stationery.
Employee onboarding kits foster a positive workplace culture and help new employees adapt quickly. Those new employees go from inexperienced workers to knowledgeable, eager employees who know the basics of the brand and wear/use products featuring its name and logo. These kits also boost morale—who doesn’t love a freebie?
It can be, but it’s not a prerequisite. If you’re on a tight budget, include only the essentials they need to do their job. Don’t include extras just for the sake of it, even if they are seemingly expensive—it adds up very quickly when you consider the sheer quantities you’ll need.