Design an Onboarding Packet To Educate & Engage New Hires
Your business is an amalgamation of the efforts of your employees. In today’s competitive world, you want to show them appreciation –– right from the start –– with a top-tier onboarding packet. With this in mind, it is important to spend time considering what to print in a welcome packet for new employees.
As you examine different strategies for compiling a new employee welcome packet, keep in mind your overarching goal to help employees acclimate to their new job and get them in the right frame of mind to make a positive impact on your company! Keep reading to learn exactly how to create a new hire onboarding packet that starts employees off on the right foot.
Why Create an Onboarding Packet
Onboarding new employees costs on average $4,125 per employee trained, so it’s in your company’s best interest to retain all new employees. Therefore, the onboarding process is a crucial moment to establish a positive employer-employee relationship. Your welcome packet is a vital part of this process.
Your new employee welcome packet is a lifeline for fresh hires. By answering all of the most important questions, you create a seamless workplace integration experience.
Particularly in today’s age of remote work, an onboarding packet helps everyone stay on the same page. Clear and welcoming documents incorporate new hires into company culture, even if they’ve never met any of their bosses or coworkers in person.
This collection of helpful materials achieves the following results:
Helps employees jump into work more quickly
Raises company morale
Indicates that your company cares about employees’ comfort
Explains what is expected in the job
Streamlines the onboarding process
With an onboarding packet that addresses these topics, you’ll be well-prepared to welcome new employees to your company.
Onboarding Packet Essentials
As long as you’re considering your employees’ needs and wants when you assemble your onboarding packet, you can’t go wrong. Here are some of our top recommendations that let employees know you care.
1. Warm Welcome Letter
Although first impressions of the company occur during the interview process, the welcome letter is a new hire’s first experience on the job. Oftentimes, employers overlook the design and content of the welcome letter in the onboarding packet, but a great welcome letter makes a difference.
Consider the welcome letter your official first impression. In larger corporations, it is especially important to create the right tone from the beginning. Personalizing the letter is an even better strategy so they know you didn’t simply copy and paste from a template!
2. Required Forms
As required by law, employees must submit various mandatory forms such as tax forms and direct deposit forms in order to meet legal requirements. The documents frequently cannot be branded, but most employees have seen them before. These may be the most important items in the welcome packet because employees need to fill these out in order to get paid!
3. Handbook or Pamphlet on Company History
Upon getting hired, many employees are unaware of the company history or what their specific day-to-day tasks will look like. Even with years of experience in a similar previous position, it’s best to ease them into the new surroundings and culture. This is also a good place to include a company directory for new employees to reference.
Although the information in an employee handbook or pamphlet is typically straightforward, strategic design elements can still be utilized. We recommend hiring a graphic designer to find a balance between fun design and practicality, communicating both the company culture and necessary information. You can use eye-catching colors or creative designs to truly capture the branding and energy of your company.
4. Onboarding Plans
To help employees acclimate to a new position, provide a detailed outline of their onboarding schedule and expectations. We have found the warmest welcomes to be transparent and informative.
Although your new hire may be nervous at first, you now have an opportunity to settle this fear. Letting them know in advance what they’ll be facing will put their mind at ease. It will also make them feel more comfortable in an unfamiliar environment. You can provide all of your onboarding materials in a classy customized folder that demonstrates your company’s commitment to your brand.
5. Information on Company Technology
Whether your new hires will be working in-person or remotely, technology is a central aspect of any job in today’s world. Therefore, it’s important to provide an overview of company technology right off the bat.
Depending on your business practices, your technology overview might include any or all of the following:
How to set up a company account, email address, Zoom account, and other login information
Acquiring a company computer or other technology
Company policies and guidelines for digital communications
Instructions on how to operate company-specific programs or machines
How to contact IT and how to receive answers to any technology questions
Laying out clear information about company technology will help new hires feel at home, no matter whether they’re working from home or at company headquarters.
6. Guide To Company Culture and Benefits
Provide a guide to company culture that helps new hires understand the everyday aspects of their new job. Whether this consists of a section in your training manual or a separate employee handbook dedicated to the company’s workings, be sure to provide all relevant information that will help new hires get a feel for the workplace.
Your guide to company culture can include any items that will help new employees. Some great ideas include an annual report, a copy of the most recent company newsletter, or an interview with a current employee about their job and the company. You will also want to include a full outline of company benefits that new employees can take advantage of. Consider adding information about the benefits packages offered at your company along with information regarding paid time off.
7. Personal Worksheet
Your new hire onboarding packet doesn’t only help new employees get to know your company; it also helps current employees get to know new hires.
Include a personal questionnaire that asks new employees some simple questions about a range of topics, from their past work experience to their preferred work style, to a fun fact or their favorite hobby. Using this information when introducing the new employee to your team will help everyone get to know each other on a personal level. This is also a great way to gather their emergency contact information and other personal contact details.
8. Exciting Welcome Kit
Elevate your new onboarding process and inspire new employees with a high-quality welcome kit. Your new hire packets should not only include everything a new employee will need to start their job; don’t forget to include some excitement and personality in your onboarding materials as well! While your onboarding packet provides the written materials that new hires need, your welcome kit brings them into the company family.
From branded apparel and company swag to custom business cards and more, a generous welcome kit demonstrates that you’re investing in your new employees and want to spread enthusiasm to everyone working there.
Print Your Onboarding Packets With The Experts!
The Print Authority prints onboarding packets that help you create an environment where employees feel confident and excited from the very first day. We offer printing, graphic design, and distribution to locations all across the country. Our team can help you customize your new employee welcome packet, and our custom web to print portals make ordering your onboarding packets a breeze.
Have questions about what to print in a welcome packet for new employees? Contact us at (615) 468-2679 or fill out our contact form.
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