Renowned poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou once said, “People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.”
With this in mind, we believe that making an excellent first impression isn’t about how many gifts you shower on your new employees. The thoughtfulness and warm intentions matter more in making them feel welcome to the team.
We understand how challenging this task could be, given the myriad of ideas out there nowadays. To help you figure this out, we are featuring 9 amazing onboarding gift ideas that will leave a good and lasting impression on the new members of your company.
1. Company-Branded Merchandise
This gift set can consist of any item that bears the company’s logo or branding style. Popular choices include t-shirts, mugs, water bottles, bags, pens, and journals. Since these items are typically limited to internal distribution, new employees will appreciate the exclusiveness of the onboarding gifts that they can use within or outside of work.
Consider adding a personal touch to your onboarding gifts by inscribing the name or initials of the recipient on each item. The employees will feel special even if the company gives the same set of company-branded merchandise to everyone on the team.
2. Personal Health Supplies
Nowadays, top companies prioritize the health and safety of their employees, especially those who require everyone to go out of their homes for work purposes. That’s why we recommend giving supplies that will help protect your employees from germs and viruses.
Typical inclusions for this onboarding gift idea are as follows:
- A small box of face masks
- Travel-sized sanitizers or alcohol
- Wet wipes
- Instructional pamphlets on personal health and safety
3. Work-From-Home Essentials
If your company allows work-from-home arrangements, consider giving a welcome kit that will help your employees feel engaged and well-equipped while working at home. It can be as simple as tasty treats or jars of coffee or tea blends or as helpful as tech supplies like headphones, wireless mice, or Wi-Fi extensions.
4. Employee Handbook + Yearbook
Raise awareness and understanding of your company policies and regulations by handing out physical and digital copies of the employee handbook to all new hires. In this way, you can be assured that everyone in the company has an objective reference since they likely won’t remember every detail shared during the HR orientation.
Since giving the employee handbook alone might seem too stuffy or uninteresting, balance things out by providing a copy of the company yearbook, too. If you’re not sure what this is, here are our suggested content for the yearbook:
- Highlights and photos of important company events and team-building activities
- List, photos, and accomplishments of the company’s top-performing employees
- Throwback photos of the memorable company moments
- Interviews or snippets from employees about their experiences working for the company
5. Healthy but Tasty Snacks
Snacking while working may help people stay focused on their respective tasks since they don’t have to leave their desks to satisfy their hunger pangs in between the big meals of the day. While you can go for the usual chips or candies, we believe it’s better to give healthier alternatives as onboarding gifts instead.
The lower salt, sugar, or artificial food additives in healthy snacks will prevent your employees from developing illnesses that can compromise their ability to perform their jobs well. Though these snacks tend to be pricier than their generic counterparts, investing in your employee’s health will yield higher returns for your company in the long run.
6. Desk Plants
Having plants around the workplace brightens up the space. Certain species may help keep the air cleaner and fresher, too.
Welcome your new employees with a potted plant that they can place on their desks. As a helpful tip, go for variants that can survive with minimal care and attention. You don’t want to burden your employees with a delicate plant, and some might not be interested in nurturing a plant while trying to achieve their work targets.
7. Self-Care Kit
Employees who get enough rest after work perform better and stay longer. Promote the idea of self-care among the new members of the team by welcoming them with the following gifts:
- Aromatic candles
- Bath bombs
- Calming tea blends
- Self-care books
8. Workday Fitness Kit
People tied to their desks throughout most of the day are at risk of developing health conditions due to a sedentary work environment. Encourage everyone to lead a balanced lifestyle by choosing welcome gifts consisting of workout gear, such as an exercise mat, hand weights, or water bottles.
Some companies also provide gift cards or free limited trials to gyms or fitness centers near the office or work site. The recipient will likely not want to waste the freebie, so they may be more inclined to go there and check if it’s something they would like to keep doing.
9. Eco-Friendly Supplies
Sustainable living continues to be the trend these days, so opt for a welcome kit that your employees can use and reuse even outside of work. Popular picks for this gift idea include:
- Travel mugs
- Reusable straws
- Reusable utensils
- Journals or pencils made from recycled materials
Final Thoughts
And there you have it—our nine fantastic gift ideas to welcome the new members of your team. Consider each suggestion to find out which one will best match your company’s culture. Assess how well that onboarding kit could communicate the well-wishes to the recipient, too. Remember, you’ve got only one shot at making an excellent first impression.
What do you think of our suggestions in this article? Do you have other bright gift ideas for the new hires? Feel free to share with us in the comment section below.