Essential Onboarding Kit: 5 Must-Haves to Wow New Employees
Welcome to the world of onboarding! It can be intimidating for employers and new employees alike. But with some well-thought-out planning and prep work, you can make a great first impression for your new employee and set them up for a successful transition to your business. By equipping them with the right materials and guidelines, you can make their onboarding journey memorable and positive. Let’s take a look at the five essential items for the perfect onboarding kit.
Table of Content
- Introduction
- Orientation Materials
- Company Handbook and Policies
- Identification and Security Cards
- Swag and Welcome Gifts
- Desk Setup
- Contacts and Training Resources
- Conclusion
- Introduction
Starting a new job can be an exciting and overwhelming experience. To help ensure that your new employees get off to a great start, you should provide an onboarding kit filled with the essential items they need to be successful in their new role. An onboarding kit helps to make a positive first impression and lets new employees know that their organization values them.
At a minimum, your onboarding kit should contain materials that help introduce your new employee to their job, provide them with the security they need to do their job, and give them an opportunity to get to know their co-workers. The following items should be included in your new employee onboarding kit to make a great first impression.
- Orientation Materials
Orientation materials are essential to providing a good onboarding experience for new employees. Orientation materials include information about the company's history, mission, values, and products or services. These items should be well organized and easy to understand, as they will provide the foundation for helping new hires transition smoothly into their new roles. Orientation materials can include videos, brochures, and company newsletters, as well as employee handbooks and policies. It is important to include information on the workplace environment, including benefits, dress code, health and safety protocols, and sexual harassment policies. Make sure to also provide information on company culture and topics such as diversity & inclusion, as well as contact information such as who to talk to if employees have questions. By providing new employees with comprehensive orientation materials, you can ensure the onboarding process is straightforward and effective.
- Company Handbook and Policies
Having a comprehensive company handbook is an essential component of any new employee onboarding kit, delivering key information about the company's mission, values, and policies. A thorough handbook can help ensure that all employees understand their expectations and are held to the same standards.
When it comes to writing company policies, it is important to consult with a qualified human resources or legal professional to ensure that the document is accurate and understood across the board. This especially applies to sensitive information related to legal compliance or workplace harassment. The company handbook should clearly define protocols for employees when dealing with potential conflict and the consequences of inappropriate behavior.
In addition to general policies, there may also be unique protocols in place for different departments. If personnel have access to highly sensitive information, additional privacy policies may need to be put in place. Such policies may vary from one department to another, so it is important to take the time to outline them specifically in the company handbook.
Finally, once the company handbook has been created, it is important to maintain a plan for ongoing updates and revisions. That way, employees can be kept abreast of any changes in policy or procedure over time.
- Identification and Security Cards
The first few days of employment can be the most memorable ones for a new employee as they are getting introduced to their coworkers, learning new roles and settling into a new environment. To ensure an organized and professional experience, providing your new employees with key items such as identification and security cards can be an effective way to make a great first impression and create a welcoming and secure environment.
For starters, it’s pretty helpful to already have their access control cards, ID cards, and other corporate access matters ready before they even arrive. As these cards are needed for logging into computers, using printers, and in some cases, accessing areas in the office, it will save a lot of time having them been already prepared and handed out on the first day.
Additionally, it is important for any organization to emphasize the significance of job functions, and how specific security cards help with distinguishing varying roles. For instance, certain security cards may indicate the nature of the job, the level of access that individual may have to restricted areas in the company, and more.
Creating a secure working environment for your new hires should be your utmost priority. By providing them with access control cards, identification cards, and other security items during the onboarding process, you will be ensuring that their safety and security is taken care of from day one.
- Swag and Welcome Gifts
Swag and welcome gifts are a great way to make a memorable first impression on your new employees. In addition to showing them that you value their presence, it is also a fun way to introduce your company’s culture and get them excited about being part of your team.
When choosing swag and welcome gifts, you should think about items that will be treasured and also make sense for your company. For example, an insulated tumbler with your company logo is not only practical but will also serve as a daily reminder of your company. A few other welcome gifts that you could consider are an employee welcome notebook filled with useful information, branded apparel, and a wireless charger with your company logo.
If you have a smaller budget, you can also send out virtual swag and welcome gifts. Offering them a free trial of your product or a discount to purchase it can be a great way to welcome them to the team. You could also offer them a gift card to an e-commerce store, sign them up for a subscription service, or have them join an online course to continually hone their skills.
Whatever swag and welcome gifts you decide to give to your new employees, make sure that you’re sending something special. Personalizing your welcome gifts to reflect the values and culture of your company will make them feel appreciated and will give them the right first impression.
For more tips on how to make a great first impression when onboarding new employees, make sure to check out our post on the essential items for a new employee onboarding kit!
- Desk Setup
Creating a comfortable and functional work station is an important part of onboarding your new employees. Whether they’re working in an office or virtually, it’s essential to provide your new hire with the necessary equipment and tools to set up an efficient workspace.
In the employee onboarding kit, be sure to include a desk setup checklist with the items needed for the employee’s workspace. Essential items may include a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and other tools necessary for the job. A desk lamp, shelf, and power strips can also be helpful to provide adequate lighting and storage space.
Finally, you want to provide workers with the office supplies they need to do their work, such as pens, paper, post-it notes, staples, and more. Doing so will let them hit the ground running from Day 1 and help them feel comfortable and ready to contribute to the team.
- Contacts and Training Resources
The onboarding process is the most important time for a new hire to start developing trust and relationships with their coworkers. The seventh step in creating a comprehensive onboarding kit is to provide contacts and training resources.
In order to help minimize confusion and create a supportive environment for new employees, it is important to give them contact information for critical team members. Include the names and contact information for their supervisor, team members, HR department, and anyone else they may need to reach out to for assistance.
In addition, new-hires should have access to training resources such as manuals, webinars, and audio-visual training materials that help them understand the job expectations and become quickly acclimated in the workplace. Make sure to provide them with all the necessary tools and resources ahead of time so they don’t feel left out on their first day.
The onboarding process should be thorough and considerate of new-hires. By providing contacts and training resources, you give them the confidence and skills they need to hit the ground running and become productive members of the team.
- Conclusion
Conclusion
The onboarding process is the key to ensuring that a new employee has the best possible start to their work at your company. By creating an onboarding kit that includes materials focused on orientation, company policies, identification and security items, swag and welcome gifts, desk setup, and contacts, you'll ensure that the new employee is prepared and ready for their new position. With the right onboarding kit, you'll create a lasting impression with your new employee and start them off on the right track.
