{"id":15774,"date":"2021-01-08T17:00:22","date_gmt":"2021-01-08T15:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.talentlms.com\/blog\/?p=15774"},"modified":"2021-01-08T17:00:22","modified_gmt":"2021-01-08T15:00:22","slug":"welcome-kit-remote-employees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.talentlms.com\/blog\/welcome-kit-remote-employees\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcome kit: How to onboard remote employees"},"content":{"rendered":"

January 2019.<\/em> Liz has landed a new job at a software company and this is her first day in the office. As she walks in, the office manager greets her with a big smile on his face and shows her where her desk is. There’s a welcome kit waiting for her. A brand new laptop, a mug with a funny quote for her coffee breaks with her colleagues, a notebook, and stickers.<\/p>\n

Fast forward to January 2021.<\/em> Another first day at work for Liz, only this time she’ll be working remotely. She wakes up, pours some coffee in her mug from her previous job, and turns on her personal laptop. It’s her first day, but it really feels like just any other day.<\/p>\n

It shouldn’t be this way, though.<\/strong> Before the pandemic changed the way we work \u2014 and made us consider the benefits of permanent remote working \u2014 a new hire\u2019s first day was simple. They would step into an office. They would have friendly faces (hopefully) and a desk with a computer (most certainly) wait for them. There would also probably be office supplies and someone to show them the ropes.<\/p>\n

Joining a team certainly looks different nowadays. But it shouldn\u2019t feel different.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Remote onboarding<\/a> certainly simplifies many elements of regular ol\u2019 onboarding. There\u2019s less awkwardness. Less paperwork. But also, less of a personal touch.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not OK. Onboarding remote employees should replicate the warm and fuzzy feelings of being welcomed to a team \u2014 as well as all the practicalities of it. Your new hires should feel connected from day one, not isolated and lost.<\/p>\n

This is where a welcome kit comes in.<\/p>\n

In this article we\u2019ll talk about why you need to offer a welcome kit<\/strong> to remote employees and what you can (and should) include in it<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

What you should include in your remote employees welcome kit<\/h2>\n

A welcome kit, also known as an onboarding kit, is more than just a \u201ckit\u201d. It signals your company\u2019s commitment and respect towards your new hire. It shows you’re excited they’re joining your team. And this is particularly important when it comes to remote employees.<\/p>\n

Just like Liz, remote employees may feel that their first day is nothing special \u2014 if they were used to working from an office. And while sending them a welcome kit can\u2019t replicate the feeling of being in the same room, it\u2019s a great start. Especially if the swag is thoughtful and geared towards the unique needs of working from home.<\/p>\n

Below you\u2019ll find some ideas on what to include in your welcome package, from the bare essentials to the \u201cabove and beyond\u201d.<\/p>\n

The essentials<\/h3>\n

Computer or laptop and mouse:<\/strong> Most people have their own computer or laptop at home nowadays. But that shouldn\u2019t matter. If you wouldn\u2019t expect onsite employees to carry their personal laptops to work every day, you shouldn\u2019t expect a remote employee to work on theirs either. (That\u2019s called a \u201cfreelancer<\/em>\u201d.)<\/p>\n

Providing your new remote hires with their own company computer or laptop is not just a nice gesture; it\u2019s also practical.<\/strong> That way, you can make sure all the programs and software they need are already installed and you can be more confident their computer won\u2019t crash every time they have to be on a Zoom call.<\/p>\n

A company phone and\/or headphone set:<\/strong> This is situation-dependent. But if your new hire will be working on sales or customer service and is required to make several calls to clients every day, they shouldn\u2019t have to use their own devices.<\/p>\n

Is offering a new phone too big of a spend? Perhaps you can set up a call plan for your salespeople, instead. Can most of those business calls be handled online? Then a professional speaker\/headset should be included in your welcome kit.<\/p>\n

Orientation guide:<\/strong> You\u2019ve probably already scheduled an orientation call with your new hire, but giving them a tangible guide they can consult whenever they have questions is still important. As this Training Industry article points out, an orientation guide is like a GPS for your new hires<\/a>, so that they don\u2019t feel lost on their first day.<\/p>\n

Of course, it doesn\u2019t have to be literally \u201ctangible\u201d.<\/p>\n

It can simply be an online onboarding course on your LMS. New hires can access this course whenever they want and find a presentation of your company and values, an organizational chart, and the contact details of their fellow coworkers.<\/p>\n

…which brings us to the next essential item.<\/p>\n

Online courses:<\/strong> The purpose of an employee welcome kit is to make new hires feel appreciated. Well, working for a company that’s willing to invest in continuous development and training does that.<\/p>\n

According to the latest TalentLMS remote work survey<\/a>, 78% of remote employees who haven\u2019t received training from their employers, wish they had<\/strong>. Depending on age, their specific needs alternate between hard skills training and soft skills training \u2014 but most agree they would complete training even outside<\/em> of their working hours.<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s not just about job performance. Survey data shows that employees who\u2019ve received training also feel happier while working from home and more valued by their companies.<\/p>\n

So don\u2019t wait until they\u2019re more \u201csettled\u201d into their role. Introducing your LMS and your online courses from day one can only be beneficial to your new hires.<\/p>\n

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\n<\/b>The training platform that users consistently rank #1.<\/span>
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The company swag<\/h3>\n

Not all companies are able to create and distribute company merch. And you certainly don\u2019t have to go all out. But even one or two items from the list below will be a great addition to your welcome kit.<\/p>\n

A mug or thermos:<\/strong> A mug is a staple when it comes to company merch. Companies like Meridian, for instance, include mugs among other swag in their welcoming kit.<\/p>\n

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We just started doing more #welcomekits<\/a> ! Our employees love them just as much as our customers! Personally, I’d prefer one with @MRFsMolly<\/a> products in it, but here is one of our latest new employee kits🙂 #promochat<\/a> #welcomekit<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/N2jkWc50gv<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Meridian (@Meridian_Direct) April 10, 2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n