Eddy’s HR Mavericks Encyclopedia
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New Hire Gifts
First impressions are important, especially when you’re hiring new employees. You want to make sure that new hires are walking into their workspace on their first day feeling welcomed, excited, and confident in their new job.
You’ve already vocally shared the company’s values and culture with your new hire, but how can you truly show off these values while they’re first getting started? How can you instill excitement and motivation in your new hires to help them hit the ground running and want to talk about their new job with their friends? Turns out there is one thing you can add to a new employee’s onboarding experience to help in all of these areas: new hire gifts!
You’ve already vocally shared the company’s values and culture with your new hire, but how can you truly show off these values while they’re first getting started? How can you instill excitement and motivation in your new hires to help them hit the ground running and want to talk about their new job with their friends? Turns out there is one thing you can add to a new employee’s onboarding experience to help in all of these areas: new hire gifts!
What Are New Hire Gifts?
New hire gifts (AKA welcome kits, swag bags, or onboarding packages) are a collection of gifts from the company for new or incoming employees to help them feel welcomed and excited about joining the organization. The package usually includes company-branded items that the new employee could use on the job, like notebooks or coffee mugs. But really, new hire gifts could be anything the company feels would help the employee feel included and happy about being hired. New hire gifts can be given to employees in-person, on their first day, or delivered prior to their first day. Some companies do both by splitting up the gift. New hire gifts are just one part of a new hire welcome packet that also contains onboarding materials, company information, and details about the position. Did you know you can also automate the entire onboarding process with an HR software system like Eddy? No more physical files or lengthy approval processes. Make it easier on yourself and your new hires by using Eddy.
Benefits of Welcoming New Hires With a Gift
Here are some of the specific benefits of new-hire gifts:
- Welcomes and celebrates the employee. New employees love being recognized and valued. They’ll feel like they’re important and critical to the organization’s success, which keeps them motivated.
- Bolsters excitement. Newly hired employees are often already excited for their first day with the new company, and sending company-branded gifts will add to the fire. New hire gifts confirm their new employment and prompts them to envision working there. They’ll be excited and ready to hit the ground running.
- Reinforces company culture and brand. This is an opportunity to show off what your company is all about. Send a coffee mug with a funny quote printed on it to communicate your comfortable, laid-back atmosphere. Or send blue-light filtering glasses to communicate how you value ergonomics and safety. It also sets an example of generosity and kindness for the new employee to follow. Learn more about creating a great company culture here.
- Helps employees feel part of the team. When new employees can wear the same company t-shirts as their team members, they’ll feel included and more team-oriented. Making sure everybody has common company swag helps ensure nobody is left out.
- Employees will brag to their friends. New employees surprised and excited about their new hire gifts will often post pictures of the gifts on social media. This helps spread your employer brand and introduces your company to even more people!
- Retention and talent acquisition rates will improve. When employees feel valued, they’re much more likely to stay with the company. Also, people outside of the organization will gravitate towards it when they see how much the company cares about their people.
Tips for Selecting and Giving New Hire Gifts
A gift that isn't useful or thoughtful can actually have the opposite effect of what is intended. Instead of feeling welcomed, new hires will feel like they're not worth your time. To ensure that your people know you matter to them, take the time to select meaningful gifts. The following tips will help you choose gifts that new employees will be happy to receive.
Tip 1: Be Strategic
Select items that portray your company culture. Avoid less useful swag that is more likely to be disregarded or thrown away.
Tip 2: Personalize It
The more personalized the gift, the more valued the employee will feel. Gifts can be personalized to the department, team, or individual level.
Tip 3: Be Inclusive
Make sure you’re not favoring or excluding any groups of people. If gifts vary across departments or teams, make sure they’re all the same value. Also, keep gifts gender-neutral, unpolitical, etc. Be sensitive to different cultures and ethnicities.
Tip 4: Make the Packaging Attractive
Again, think of the message you’re expressing.
Tip 5: Use Your Company Branding
There are many businesses that can print customized swag with your company’s colors and logos.
25 Impactful New Hire Gift Ideas
Here are some impactful new-hire gift ideas that you can implement in your own organization, categorized into five different sections.
1. Gear to Make Their Jobs Easier
Think about the specific job or department that the new employee is entering, and give them items that will help make their job easier. They’ll appreciate not having to go out of their way to purchase the gear themselves.
- Office supplies. Show that you’re setting them up for success by giving them things like notebooks, sticky notes, calendars, or pens.
- Headphones. For jobs requiring regular video calls or periods of time “in the zone,” headphones can be helpful.
- Laptop case. If your new hires are expected to carry a laptop around with them, help them out by providing a company laptop case.
- Mousepad. Mousepads are easy to put your company logo on and make using computers more comfortable for workers.
2. Apparel
Company-branded apparel will not only help employees feel more connected to the team and organization but your company brand will be spread wherever they wear it.
- Shirt/jacket. You can help communicate the dress code through the shirts and jackets you give out, whether it’s casual or more formal. The better the quality, the more likely your employees will wear them outside of work.
- Backpack. Everyone uses backpacks somehow. Types of backpacks vary from traditional backpacks to drawstring bags to messenger bags.
- Hat. Baseball caps, flat-brim hats, or beanies are used by lots of people.
- Socks. Company-branded socks can show off a casual or even somewhat goofy company culture.
3. Office Accessories
There are a variety of desk accessories that workers will be happy to use in the office.
- Coffee mug. Show your employees that morning coffee fits right into the office atmosphere.
- Water bottle. A quality water bottle helps your workers stay hydrated and encourages less plastic usage.
- Nameplate. Nameplates can help your employees feel important, and that their job is set-in-stone and the “real deal.”
- Insulated lunch bag. If your employees bring their own lunch to eat in the office, giving them lunch bags will make it even easier.
4. Company Culture Gifts
This is your chance to communicate your company culture and values through gift-giving. Think about the messages you are giving through the items you (as the employer) choose.
- Personalized note. Personalized, hand-written notes from executives, the employee’s manager, or their coworkers will help them feel valued and included.
- Company product or coupon. Obviously not all businesses have cheap, tangible goods or services that can be given to their employees as new hire gifts, but some businesses can! It could be a cheap and easy way to show your workers what you’re about as a business.
- Wellness gifts. If wellness is important to your company, consider providing gifts like yoga mats, essential oils, or healthy snacks or drinks.
- Environmentally friendly gifts. Show off how environmentally friendly your company is by offering any of these suggested gifts in planet-friendly forms, such as items produced from recycled plastic or items that are biodegradable.
- Books. Give self-help books that teach new employees how to practice specific values or skills that are critical to your company’s mission or the job role, like leadership, sales, or innovation.
- 1-Year Subscriptions. Apps like Headspace are perfect for showing your employees how much their mental health matters to you and your company. Consider providing them with a 1-year subscription for them to use during their breaks or off-time.
5. Other Gifts and Goodies
The list of meaningful gifts that you could give new employees is practically endless, but here are some more popular ideas.
- Treats and snacks. Everyone appreciates a quick snack break while at work.
- Stickers. Offer neat and creative company stickers that employees can place on their water bottle, laptop, or notebook.
- Blanket. Blankets are thoughtful gifts that anyone would appreciate.
- Scented candles. Send the message you want them to have the chance to unwind and relax with a scented candle.
- Gift cards. Get creative with the stores or restaurants you give your employees gift cards to.
Even if you have little to no budget for new hire gifts, there are still ways you can help your employees feel cared about through welcoming experiences. Set some balloons at their desk with a hand-written note, have their manager take them out to lunch, or ask members of their team to stop by their desk and introduce themselves. Remember, it’s more about helping them feel welcomed and valued rather than finding the most expensive gift.
What the Best Companies Are Giving Their New Employees
Here are some companies you’re probably familiar with and what they’ve given their new hires.
Nike
This Nike welcome box keeps things neat and simple. The box is stamped with a welcome message, and inside is a mug, a calendar with a stand, and earbuds.
Amazon
Amazon welcomes their employees with a t-shirt, keychains, a notebook, and stickers branded and packed in a drawstring bag.
Unilever
Unilever doesn’t hold back in sharing a variety of company products. Along with the company computer, they hand out a multitude of their health and hygiene products, as well as some healthy snacks.
Bosch
All in a nice-looking backpack and box, Bosch gifts new employees with a fun note, a headset, mouse, water bottle, notebook and pen, name tag with a lanyard, and even what looks like a soap (or hand sanitizer?) dispenser.
Giving New Hires a Great Experience With Eddy Hire
Does everybody love receiving a present? Yes. Do new hire gifts help employees feel valued? For sure. But if your hiring process is off putting, a gift won’t fix the new hire's bad impression. If the gift is going to mean anything, you first have to have a foundation in place that will give employees an all-around great experience getting hired.Eddy Hire builds that foundation. From the start of the hiring process, it makes things easy on applicants by letting them apply for positions by filling out one simple form. As they move through the hiring pipeline, automated emails keep them in the loop, telling them that you respect their time and effort in applying. When it’s time to interview, applicants fill out a calendar link to schedule their interview when it’s convenient for them. Once your new hire has moved seamlessly through the hiring process, their new hire gift is just one more reminder that your organization cares.
Topics
Brandon Fluckiger
Brandon is currently a People & Capabilities Advisor at Thiess where he helps implement HR strategies in Salt Lake City and Colorado. He recently graduated with his MHR and MBA at Utah State University, where he also received his bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies with minors in HR, business management, and technical sales management. He has filled professional roles as an HR business partner, an HR generalist, and a senior recruiter; and has exceptional experience in people analytics, compensation, and talent development. Brandon is a strong advocate for HR strategy and helping business leaders understand the true power of maximizing employee potential.
Frequently asked questions
Other Related Terms
Eddy’s HR Mavericks Encyclopedia
New Hire Gifts
First impressions are important, especially when you’re hiring new employees. You want to make sure that new hires are walking into their workspace on their first day feeling welcomed, excited, and confident in their new job.
You’ve already vocally shared the company’s values and culture with your new hire, but how can you truly show off these values while they’re first getting started? How can you instill excitement and motivation in your new hires to help them hit the ground running and want to talk about their new job with their friends? Turns out there is one thing you can add to a new employee’s onboarding experience to help in all of these areas: new hire gifts!
You’ve already vocally shared the company’s values and culture with your new hire, but how can you truly show off these values while they’re first getting started? How can you instill excitement and motivation in your new hires to help them hit the ground running and want to talk about their new job with their friends? Turns out there is one thing you can add to a new employee’s onboarding experience to help in all of these areas: new hire gifts!
What Are New Hire Gifts?
New hire gifts (AKA welcome kits, swag bags, or onboarding packages) are a collection of gifts from the company for new or incoming employees to help them feel welcomed and excited about joining the organization. The package usually includes company-branded items that the new employee could use on the job, like notebooks or coffee mugs. But really, new hire gifts could be anything the company feels would help the employee feel included and happy about being hired. New hire gifts can be given to employees in-person, on their first day, or delivered prior to their first day. Some companies do both by splitting up the gift. New hire gifts are just one part of a new hire welcome packet that also contains onboarding materials, company information, and details about the position. Did you know you can also automate the entire onboarding process with an HR software system like Eddy? No more physical files or lengthy approval processes. Make it easier on yourself and your new hires by using Eddy.
Benefits of Welcoming New Hires With a Gift
Here are some of the specific benefits of new-hire gifts:
- Welcomes and celebrates the employee. New employees love being recognized and valued. They’ll feel like they’re important and critical to the organization’s success, which keeps them motivated.
- Bolsters excitement. Newly hired employees are often already excited for their first day with the new company, and sending company-branded gifts will add to the fire. New hire gifts confirm their new employment and prompts them to envision working there. They’ll be excited and ready to hit the ground running.
- Reinforces company culture and brand. This is an opportunity to show off what your company is all about. Send a coffee mug with a funny quote printed on it to communicate your comfortable, laid-back atmosphere. Or send blue-light filtering glasses to communicate how you value ergonomics and safety. It also sets an example of generosity and kindness for the new employee to follow. Learn more about creating a great company culture here.
- Helps employees feel part of the team. When new employees can wear the same company t-shirts as their team members, they’ll feel included and more team-oriented. Making sure everybody has common company swag helps ensure nobody is left out.
- Employees will brag to their friends. New employees surprised and excited about their new hire gifts will often post pictures of the gifts on social media. This helps spread your employer brand and introduces your company to even more people!
- Retention and talent acquisition rates will improve. When employees feel valued, they’re much more likely to stay with the company. Also, people outside of the organization will gravitate towards it when they see how much the company cares about their people.
Tips for Selecting and Giving New Hire Gifts
A gift that isn't useful or thoughtful can actually have the opposite effect of what is intended. Instead of feeling welcomed, new hires will feel like they're not worth your time. To ensure that your people know you matter to them, take the time to select meaningful gifts. The following tips will help you choose gifts that new employees will be happy to receive.
Tip 1: Be Strategic
Select items that portray your company culture. Avoid less useful swag that is more likely to be disregarded or thrown away.
Tip 2: Personalize It
The more personalized the gift, the more valued the employee will feel. Gifts can be personalized to the department, team, or individual level.
Tip 3: Be Inclusive
Make sure you’re not favoring or excluding any groups of people. If gifts vary across departments or teams, make sure they’re all the same value. Also, keep gifts gender-neutral, unpolitical, etc. Be sensitive to different cultures and ethnicities.
Tip 4: Make the Packaging Attractive
Again, think of the message you’re expressing.
Tip 5: Use Your Company Branding
There are many businesses that can print customized swag with your company’s colors and logos.
25 Impactful New Hire Gift Ideas
Here are some impactful new-hire gift ideas that you can implement in your own organization, categorized into five different sections.
1. Gear to Make Their Jobs Easier
Think about the specific job or department that the new employee is entering, and give them items that will help make their job easier. They’ll appreciate not having to go out of their way to purchase the gear themselves.
- Office supplies. Show that you’re setting them up for success by giving them things like notebooks, sticky notes, calendars, or pens.
- Headphones. For jobs requiring regular video calls or periods of time “in the zone,” headphones can be helpful.
- Laptop case. If your new hires are expected to carry a laptop around with them, help them out by providing a company laptop case.
- Mousepad. Mousepads are easy to put your company logo on and make using computers more comfortable for workers.
2. Apparel
Company-branded apparel will not only help employees feel more connected to the team and organization but your company brand will be spread wherever they wear it.
- Shirt/jacket. You can help communicate the dress code through the shirts and jackets you give out, whether it’s casual or more formal. The better the quality, the more likely your employees will wear them outside of work.
- Backpack. Everyone uses backpacks somehow. Types of backpacks vary from traditional backpacks to drawstring bags to messenger bags.
- Hat. Baseball caps, flat-brim hats, or beanies are used by lots of people.
- Socks. Company-branded socks can show off a casual or even somewhat goofy company culture.
3. Office Accessories
There are a variety of desk accessories that workers will be happy to use in the office.
- Coffee mug. Show your employees that morning coffee fits right into the office atmosphere.
- Water bottle. A quality water bottle helps your workers stay hydrated and encourages less plastic usage.
- Nameplate. Nameplates can help your employees feel important, and that their job is set-in-stone and the “real deal.”
- Insulated lunch bag. If your employees bring their own lunch to eat in the office, giving them lunch bags will make it even easier.
4. Company Culture Gifts
This is your chance to communicate your company culture and values through gift-giving. Think about the messages you are giving through the items you (as the employer) choose.
- Personalized note. Personalized, hand-written notes from executives, the employee’s manager, or their coworkers will help them feel valued and included.
- Company product or coupon. Obviously not all businesses have cheap, tangible goods or services that can be given to their employees as new hire gifts, but some businesses can! It could be a cheap and easy way to show your workers what you’re about as a business.
- Wellness gifts. If wellness is important to your company, consider providing gifts like yoga mats, essential oils, or healthy snacks or drinks.
- Environmentally friendly gifts. Show off how environmentally friendly your company is by offering any of these suggested gifts in planet-friendly forms, such as items produced from recycled plastic or items that are biodegradable.
- Books. Give self-help books that teach new employees how to practice specific values or skills that are critical to your company’s mission or the job role, like leadership, sales, or innovation.
- 1-Year Subscriptions. Apps like Headspace are perfect for showing your employees how much their mental health matters to you and your company. Consider providing them with a 1-year subscription for them to use during their breaks or off-time.
5. Other Gifts and Goodies
The list of meaningful gifts that you could give new employees is practically endless, but here are some more popular ideas.
- Treats and snacks. Everyone appreciates a quick snack break while at work.
- Stickers. Offer neat and creative company stickers that employees can place on their water bottle, laptop, or notebook.
- Blanket. Blankets are thoughtful gifts that anyone would appreciate.
- Scented candles. Send the message you want them to have the chance to unwind and relax with a scented candle.
- Gift cards. Get creative with the stores or restaurants you give your employees gift cards to.
Even if you have little to no budget for new hire gifts, there are still ways you can help your employees feel cared about through welcoming experiences. Set some balloons at their desk with a hand-written note, have their manager take them out to lunch, or ask members of their team to stop by their desk and introduce themselves. Remember, it’s more about helping them feel welcomed and valued rather than finding the most expensive gift.
What the Best Companies Are Giving Their New Employees
Here are some companies you’re probably familiar with and what they’ve given their new hires.
Nike
This Nike welcome box keeps things neat and simple. The box is stamped with a welcome message, and inside is a mug, a calendar with a stand, and earbuds.
Amazon
Amazon welcomes their employees with a t-shirt, keychains, a notebook, and stickers branded and packed in a drawstring bag.
Unilever
Unilever doesn’t hold back in sharing a variety of company products. Along with the company computer, they hand out a multitude of their health and hygiene products, as well as some healthy snacks.
Bosch
All in a nice-looking backpack and box, Bosch gifts new employees with a fun note, a headset, mouse, water bottle, notebook and pen, name tag with a lanyard, and even what looks like a soap (or hand sanitizer?) dispenser.
Giving New Hires a Great Experience With Eddy Hire
Does everybody love receiving a present? Yes. Do new hire gifts help employees feel valued? For sure. But if your hiring process is off putting, a gift won’t fix the new hire's bad impression. If the gift is going to mean anything, you first have to have a foundation in place that will give employees an all-around great experience getting hired.Eddy Hire builds that foundation. From the start of the hiring process, it makes things easy on applicants by letting them apply for positions by filling out one simple form. As they move through the hiring pipeline, automated emails keep them in the loop, telling them that you respect their time and effort in applying. When it’s time to interview, applicants fill out a calendar link to schedule their interview when it’s convenient for them. Once your new hire has moved seamlessly through the hiring process, their new hire gift is just one more reminder that your organization cares.
Topics
Brandon Fluckiger
Brandon is currently a People & Capabilities Advisor at Thiess where he helps implement HR strategies in Salt Lake City and Colorado. He recently graduated with his MHR and MBA at Utah State University, where he also received his bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies with minors in HR, business management, and technical sales management. He has filled professional roles as an HR business partner, an HR generalist, and a senior recruiter; and has exceptional experience in people analytics, compensation, and talent development. Brandon is a strong advocate for HR strategy and helping business leaders understand the true power of maximizing employee potential.
Frequently asked questions
Other Related Terms
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