Why Does Employee Retention Matter?

Employee retention measures how effectively a company keeps talented employees engaged and satisfied. It’s driven by practices that enhance the employee experience, including compensation, policies, benefits, and workplace perks.

A positive employee experience goes beyond improving your Glassdoor reviews. By fostering engagement, feedback, and appreciation, organizations can achieve significant improvements in performance and costs:

• Companies with highly engaged employees see a 10% increase in customer loyalty, 18% higher productivity, and 22% greater profitability. (Gallup, 2022)
• Recruiting and onboarding a new employee costs an average of six months’ salary. (Gallup, 2018)
• It takes 1–2 years for a new hire to match the productivity of their predecessor. (Josh Bersin, LinkedIn)

What should be covered in new employee onboarding?

A positive onboarding experience for employees should include the following things:

• A review of benefits and pay structure.
• A calendar of all days off in the year and all significant company dates.
• An assigned “buddy” who will serve as their guide through the onboarding process.
• A training schedule covering all aspects of their job, including shadowing time.
• A new employee welcome kit to give them the warm fuzzies right at the start.

What should be included in a new employee welcome kit?

1. Office supplies.

Make sure that an employee has all the tools they need to stay focused and comfortably complete their first few weeks of training efficiently. Things like writing utensils, notebooks, and lip balm can all help an employee feel prepared for several days or weeks of learning.

We recommend tip-in notebooks that include a marketing insert where you can include company mission and vision statements, or important websites and contact information. You could also consider:

• • Pens
  • Mousepads

2. Necessary tech.

There is nothing more distracting than a dying phone or laptop in the middle of an important training session. We recommend power banks that will allow them to charge anywhere on the go rather than distractedly hunting for an electrical outlet.  You could also consider:

• • Chargers
  • Headphones or Earbuds
  • Tech Organizer

3. Comfort items.

Little things go a long way to show employees you care. Thinking about their comfort level, whether it’s having enough water during a long training session or having some cover if they get stuck in the rain, will let them know that you as an organization care about their wellbeing.

Here’s some great options to consider:

• • Umbrellas
  • Lip balm
  • Blankets

4. Snacks and lunch.

New employees may feel uncertain about when and where breaks will happen, so providing snacks and lunch plans for their first few days can help them feel more at ease and welcomed. Including branded snacks in their welcome kits adds a thoughtful and unexpected touch that is sure to delight. Opt for snacks packaged in a reusable box they can repurpose later for added utility and sustainability.

• • Bento boxes
  • Food storage containers
  • Snacks

5. Employee apparel.

There’s a reason why Members Only jackets were so popular. Branded apparel has a unique way of making people feel included and like they are a part of something bigger. Giving your new employees a piece of branded apparel heightens their sense of belonging to your organization.

6. Onboarding activities.

There is a lot of information to take in during the first few weeks in a job. Research shows that stress toys and fidget items actually can help improve their attention span and memory.

Consider these items:

• Company jumbo Jenga (Have each of the coworkers sign a block! This activity helps with new name retention.)
• Fidget products

7. Reuseable packaging.

Now that you have all your supplies for your new employee, it’s time to think about what you’ll put it in. Branded bags generate the most impressions of any other product with nearly 3,300 over the time the item is used. (ASI 2019 Study) By presenting your employee welcome kit in a branded bag, …

We like the idea of giving employees laptop bags or computer backpacks depending on your company dress code. They will use the bag every day.

A great employee welcome kit sets the tone for success and retention. Ready to create yours? Contact us today to get started!