How to Improve Remote Employee Onboarding with Welcome Kits

New hires bring with them new experiences and skills that can benefit your company. The onboarding process is important, but it should be done in the right way. It should make the new hire feel they are appreciated for joining the company. A new hire welcome kit can be an exciting way to show the employee you are happy with them. Remote employee onboarding is different from traditional onboarding.

The choice of the kit can be different. You share the kit online or send them a physical gift to their location. It may include software or work-oriented resources. You can include videos sharing about the company culture or a computer. The bottom line is to make them feel welcome and appreciated.

Source: packwire.com

The role of welcome kits for new hires

A new hire might have an idea about your company. However, they might not have a full idea of what to expect. Part of the onboarding process should include helping them feel relaxed. They need to feel they are part of a new team and they will get the support they need. A welcome kit plays this role and more. It helps them reduce the feeling of stress common when an employee joins a new company.

The choice of a welcome kit depends on the support your company wants to offer the worker. It doesn’t have to be soft copies sent online only. It can also include physical items such as hardware. The hardware may include a softcopy where they can read more instructions for software maintenance. This is necessary especially if your kit includes a corporate computer for the new hire. It plays the role of creating a flawless onboarding process. It also empowers the remote worker to deal with potential technical issues if they arise. This way, the worker optimizes their remote work environment with a lot of independence.

The benefits go beyond the individual and overflow into the company. Here are some of the benefits your brand can benefit from.

• Sends a positive first impression to new hires on their first day at work. First impressions are important. The employee should view the company positively and feel they made the right choice.
• Introduces a new worker to your company’s work culture. For instance, your company’s culture could be to promote a relaxed work environment. The kit should boldly send out that message to the new worker.
• Promoting stronger bonds between virtual teams from day one. The workers should feel they are not working alone, although they are remotely located. They need to feel they are part of a larger team.
• A sign of recognition and appreciation that you are happy with their choice to join the company.
• Helps the worker to stick with the company for longer. It is common to hire someone, and they leave sooner than expected. It could be that they didn’t get what they expected. A kit might help create a positive impression, and they choose to stay.
• Building a zeal to work hard. A kit can help the employee feel they are part of a team. It can create a spirit in them to work harder.

When to give a welcome kit to new hires

What is most important is to understand the main purpose of a welcome kit. It serves the goal of helping the person feel at ease and welcome. The onboarding process might include a variety of components, such as training, and work guidelines. However, the kit should precede every other onboarding component.

It should be the first thing the person receives immediately after receiving their “you are hired message.” You don’t have to wait until you get a new hire to decide what to give. The moment you get the idea of the need to hire someone, you should start thinking about what to give.

You need to have the idea and the kit ready days before you decide who to hire from the list of applicants. The times are changing, and society is more environmentally sustainable. You might think about eco-friendly packaging. Before you choose a kit to give, consider the following points.

• Choose a personalized/customized package.
• Ensure you capture the culture of your brand in the kit. Pay attention to your brand’s values.
• If you are sending a physical kit, ensure the wrapping is branded.
• Let the items you include be useful or relevant to the new hire.

Ideas on what your new hire welcome kit may include

The kit should include a theme that promotes your brand. Even though it aims to welcome the person, you should have your brand in mind as a priority. What you add to the welcome bag depends on a variety of issues.

• The budget you are willing to spend.
• The value you want to add to the new hire and your brand.
• What the person is supposed to learn or achieve.

Here are ideas of items to add to the kit.

Resource packed package

The new hire might barely know anything about your company. They need to learn a lot about your company, including its culture. For instance, if you are a packaging company, you need to learn about the new trends in the sector. One of the trends could be AI in the packaging industry and its impact on the market. Let the employee learn deeper details about the company. It can help them feel they are in the right job.

Source: frontex.europa.eu

Tech gadgets

Remote work is technology-driven, and tech gadgets can be useful to the new worker. They need the latest digital gadgets to deliver your expectations effectively. You may consider gadgets such as a smartphone or computer. You can also include a wireless charger and other accessories. All these items can be branded with your company logo for greater customization.

Source: inc.com

Training Kit/guide

Training is crucial when onboarding new employees. It helps ensure they understand what their work entails. Since they are remotely located, a training manual or guide can be useful. You may conduct training through video meetings, but a training kit is important. The new hire can refer to the kit for information at any time.

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Company promotional items

The kit may include your brand’s promotional items. They help create a swag about the company to build a strong positive impression. The items may include a branded pen, mug, or notebooks. You may add a branded umbrella, headphones, or t-shirt.

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Cash to purchase some items

Many top companies include a stipend in their welcome kit. Most new employees will appreciate such a gift and use it to get started in their work. A survey by TalentLMS shows that 75% of respondents say they could buy office furniture. Others prefer to buy digital gadgets if they receive a stipend from their new employers. Another 65% say they would use the stipend to order meals. Another 53% say they would enroll in a course.

Source: financeoverfifty.com

Conclusion

A welcome kit is useful in the onboarding process of a new hire. The kit needs to be prioritized and given as the first item the new person receives from the company. It doesn’t have to be costly or worth a great value. It can include simple items such as software, a training manual, and a welcome note. It is necessary to prepare the kit days before the new worker receives their letter confirming they are hired.