Welcome packages for new employees: Inspiration from top companies

A first impression is crucial, especially when welcoming a new employee into an organisation. Onboarding is not just an introduction; it’s an opportunity to immerse new team members in the company culture and make them feel welcome straight away. A well-crafted welcome pack can play an essential role in this.

Why a welcome pack for new employees?

A welcome pack for new employees is a thoughtfully assembled gift given to new hires on their first day or during their orientation period. The goal is to introduce new employees to the company culture and make them feel valued from the very start. Creating a welcome pack is an essential part of the onboarding process. Here are some reasons why:

• A welcome pack gives new employees a warm welcome and makes them feel immediately part of the team.
• The onboarding pack is a gesture of commitment and support from the company, which boosts the intrinsic motivation of new employees.
• With fun items that reflect the company culture, the welcome pack helps with a smooth integration, even for remote workers.

6 must-have items in a welcome pack

When we advise clients on assembling welcome packs, these six items almost always come up:

1. Notebook and pen: A notebook and pen with the company logo are practical and stylish, ideal for meetings or jotting down (creative) ideas. A notebook and pen are useful and attractive items that should not be missing from an onboarding pack unless your company is completely paperless, of course.
2. Welcome card: A personalised welcome card with a beautiful print, the company logo, and a motivational message gives the new employee a personal, warm welcome. Choose a seed paper card for a sustainable and original touch. Recipients can plant the card, which will then grow into flowers or herbs.
3. Reusable water bottle or coffee cup: A reusable water bottle or coffee cup is used at the office, home, and on the go. Not only practical for the recipient, but it also makes your company logo visible everywhere. Additionally, it's positive to encourage employees to drink more water, especially from a sustainable reusable water bottle.
4. T-shirt, cap, beanie, socks, bag, canvas bag: A t-shirt, hoodie, cap, beanie, socks, or bag with the company logo increases the visibility of your brand outside the office. Choose sustainable materials to show that your company cares about both employees and the environment. A canvas bag can also serve as useful packaging for the onboarding pack.
5. Snacks: A small treat like a personalised Tony's Chocolonely chocolate bar is always appreciated.
6. A 'fun' item: Add a 'fun' item to give the onboarding pack a playful twist. Think of playing cards, confetti, skipping rope, stress ball, gadget, or a self-designed game. This shows that you promote relaxation and team building. By customising these items with your logo, you create a positive memory of your brand.

Examples of welcome packs

Get inspired and see how the following top companies welcome their new employees.

Google

Google welcomes its new employees in an innovative, creative way that reflects the company culture. Google does this with the playful 'Noogler Welcome Kit'. This pack contains a notebook, a reusable water bottle, a unique cap, a canvas bag, and a welcome card. With the onboarding programme and pack, Google aims to stimulate collaboration among new employees.

Image by: Ian Ward

Deel

The onboarding pack of the HR tech company Deel contains a sustainable reusable water bottle, a notebook, a pen, a t-shirt, and a bingo card. The bingo card lists funny situations that can be ticked off when they occur during work. This is an original way to connect with employees worldwide.

Image by: Max Ek

Personio

Personio has put together a welcome pack based on the company culture, aiming to make a positive impact on the environment and society. Corporate responsibility means caring for each other and the planet. The onboarding pack contains a mix of sustainable, ecological, and practical items, such as a seed bomb, seed paper confetti, herbs, a jumper, and a notebook made from sustainable materials, and a personal card.

Image by: Mohamed Awan

Meta

Meta's welcome pack includes items such as a comfortable sweater, a beanie, a small notebook, a coffee mug, and a personal card. This also helps new team members working from home to feel immediately part of the team.

Image by: Haneen AbuFarha

Miele

As expected from a brand like Miele, they choose high-quality and practical necessities useful in the office, at home, and on the go. These include an umbrella, a canvas bag, a Moleskine notebook, a luxury pen, a thermos flask, and a canvas bag.

Image by: Leoprinting

Pertemps

Pertemps, the largest recruitment organisation in England, goes all out with the onboarding pack for new employees. The pack includes a bamboo speaker and power bank, a reusable water bottle, a coffee cup, a luxury notebook, post-its, a stress ball, and a personal welcome card.

Image by: Olivia Benson

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz's welcome pack exudes luxury with practical items such as a stylish water bottle, a bag, a key cord, a mug, and a pen.

Image by: Khushi Jain

Nike

Nike has different welcome packs for employees in various countries and departments. This welcome pack includes a notebook, pens, a personal card, a badge, and snacks. Nike also has welcome packs with items like a sweatband, reflecting Nike's dynamic and sporty culture.

Image by: Neha Chitnis

Prenatal

Prenatal's welcome pack focuses on the company's core values, combining practical, sustainable, and dynamic playful items. The pack includes a water bottle, a notebook, a pen, and a luxury canvas bag, as well as a skipping rope, a card game, and a Tony's Chocolonely chocolate bar. The seed bomb symbolises sustainability and growth.

Image by: Leoprinting

Snowflake

Snowflake's welcome pack contains practical and stylish items such as a luxury reusable coffee cup, a coffee mug, a notebook, a pen, a laptop sticker, and a handwritten card. Great attention has been paid to the branding of the pack, which perfectly matches the company's style.

Image by: Tyler White

BairesDev

The software company BairesDev also welcomes new employees with various onboarding packs, tailored to different countries and departments. Each pack is personalised with unique branding based on the slogan "We are The Ones." The text on the welcome card immediately motivates new employees and describes the company's mission. New employees are encouraged to share their first workday on social media. Furthermore, the pack contains a thermos flask, a notebook, socks, and a coffee mug.

Image by: Lucas Putini

Hallmark

Hallmark has assembled a welcome pack that reflects the brand's warm and personal approach. This pack contains a thermos flask, a notebook, a key cord, and an onboarding guide. Additionally, the pack contains cards with information about the brand house: here you will find the essence of Hallmark as a brand, including their beliefs, social relevance, the promise that sets them apart, and the brand values. The onboarding pack is also suitable for sending as a letterbox pack to remote workers.

Image by: Yasin Mukan

Connection

Connection’s welcome pack emphasises team spirit with a luxury thermos cup, a notebook, a pen, a canvas bag, and a laptop sticker.

Image by: Bradlee Jaye

Conclusion

A welcome pack is more than just a collection of items; it is a powerful tool to show new employees that they are welcome and that their arrival is appreciated.

With the help of these examples, you can start creating your own welcome pack, highlighting your company culture and core values. How would you design your own welcome pack?

We can assemble welcome packs in any desired form and almost any budget. Contact us for the possibilities, we are happy to help!