Welcome Kit
A welcome kit is a curated package of materials, resources, and branded items given to new employees during onboarding to introduce them to the company and help them feel valued from day one.
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What is a Welcome Kit?
A welcome kit is a package of materials, resources, and branded items that companies give new employees as part of employee onboarding. You might also hear it called a new hire welcome package or onboarding kit. These kits usually mix practical stuff like company handbooks and IT guides with culture-focused items like branded merchandise and personalized welcome letters.
But the goal is not just handing out swag. When done right, a welcome kit shows new hires that someone actually thought about their arrival. It helps ease first-day nerves by putting key resources within reach immediately, and it creates something tangible to connect with before the employee has had time to build relationships with coworkers.
There is solid research backing this up. Organizations with structured onboarding programs, which often include welcome kits, tend to see noticeably better retention. A 2025 study found that employees who go through proper onboarding are 58% more likely to stick around for three years or longer. For many new hires, the welcome kit is their very first touchpoint with that experience. Companies often pair welcome kits with a structured onboarding checklist for a complete new employee orientation.
Key Characteristics of a Welcome Kit
- Practical Resources: The essentials that new hires need right away, like the employee handbook, IT setup guides, benefits information, and org charts.
- Branded Items: Company merchandise such as t-shirts, notebooks, water bottles, or bags. These help new employees feel like part of the team from day one.
- Personalized Elements: A welcome letter from leadership or the direct manager works well here. Sometimes it includes a note about why the organization is genuinely excited to have them join.
- Cultural Touchpoints: Items that capture the company's personality. Think stickers, snacks, or quirky keepsakes that nod to company values or inside jokes.
- Technology Essentials: Login credentials, software access instructions, and sometimes pre-configured equipment ready to go on the first day.
Welcome Kit Examples
Example 1: Tech Startup Welcome Kit
A software company ships a welcome box to remote employees a few days before they start. Inside, there is a branded hoodie, a nice notebook with the company logo, a handwritten note from the CEO, and a little "survival kit" packed with snacks and coffee. The box also has a printed quick-start guide explaining how to access email, Slack, and other key systems. A QR code links to video walkthroughs covering the company's tools.
Example 2: Corporate Enterprise Welcome Kit
A financial services firm sets up a welcome kit on each new employee's desk before they walk in. It includes the employee handbook, a benefits enrollment guide, a corporate ID badge, and a desk organizer stocked with branded pens and sticky notes. There is also a printed welcome letter from the department head and a schedule for the first week that links to training materials and orientation sessions.
Welcome Kit vs Onboarding Checklist
Both of these support new employee integration, but they play different roles in the process.
| Aspect | Welcome Kit | Onboarding Checklist |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Create a positive first impression and provide essential resources | Track tasks and activities during the integration period |
| Format | Physical or digital package of materials and items | Structured list of action items with deadlines |
| Timing | Delivered on or before the first day | Used throughout the first 30-90 days |
| Focus | Resources and culture | Tasks and accountability |
How Glitter AI Helps with Welcome Kits
Glitter AI makes creating the instructional parts of a welcome kit much simpler. Instead of writing out lengthy setup guides or crossing your fingers that new hires will figure out company tools on their own, teams can use screen recording to build visual walkthroughs. These cover everything from logging into systems to navigating internal platforms.
You can bundle these video guides into a digital welcome kit that new employees access on day one. When processes change, updating the materials just means recording a new walkthrough. This keeps welcome kit content accurate and cuts down on the flood of questions that typically hits managers during onboarding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a welcome kit for new employees?
A welcome kit is a curated package of materials, branded items, and resources given to new hires during onboarding. It typically includes practical documents like the employee handbook, company merchandise, a welcome letter, and instructions for getting started with tools and systems.
What should be included in a new employee welcome kit?
Common items include a welcome letter from leadership, the employee handbook, IT setup guides, branded merchandise like t-shirts or notebooks, office supplies, benefits information, an org chart, and sometimes snacks or small gifts that reflect company culture.
Why are welcome kits important for onboarding?
Welcome kits help create a positive first impression and can ease new hire anxiety. They signal that the company actually values its people. Organizations with structured onboarding programs, which often include welcome kits, tend to see retention rates up to 58% higher.
What is the difference between a welcome kit and an onboarding kit?
People often use these terms interchangeably since both refer to packages of materials and resources for new employees. Some organizations do make a distinction, with welcome kits focusing on day-one items while onboarding kits cover a broader range of training materials.
How do you create a welcome kit for remote employees?
Ship physical items like branded merchandise and printed guides to their home address before they start. Pair that with digital resources including video walkthroughs of key systems, links to important documents, and virtual introduction materials. The key is making sure everything arrives before day one.
What is a digital welcome kit?
A digital welcome kit is an online package of resources for new employees. It typically includes video tutorials, digital copies of handbooks, links to training platforms, and access credentials. These are especially useful for remote employees or companies trying to go paperless.
How much should a company spend on welcome kits?
Budgets range quite a bit depending on company size and culture. Smaller businesses might spend $25-50 per kit on basic branded items and printed materials. Larger companies or those that really emphasize culture often invest $100-300 or more per employee on higher-quality merchandise and customized packages.
When should new employees receive their welcome kit?
Ideally, new hires get their welcome kit on or before their first day. For remote employees, shipping a few days early helps ensure it arrives on time. Having materials ready from the start sets a professional tone and gives new hires something tangible to connect with right away.
What branded items work best in employee welcome kits?
Practical items that people will actually use tend to be the best choices: quality t-shirts or hoodies, notebooks, water bottles, laptop stickers, and tote bags. What matters most is picking items that reflect company values and are good enough quality that employees genuinely want to use them.
How do welcome kits improve employee retention?
Welcome kits contribute to a positive onboarding experience, and research consistently shows that onboarding quality has a real impact on retention. They help new hires feel valued from day one, build an emotional connection to the company, and provide resources that speed up how quickly employees become productive.
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