WHAT THE LATEST GLOBAL & AUSTRALIAN EMPLOYMENT STATS SAY

Did you know that while over an astonishing one-third of employees leave their jobs each year in the US, replacing a highly trained employee can cost over 200% of their annual salary? OUCH. (PeopleKeep, 2022)

Victor Lipman, global management expert and author featured in Forbes, Harvard Business Review and Psychology Today, wrote in late 2020 that “64% of (US) employees feel recognition and appreciation from management are more important than ever in a pandemic” and a new way of working. He suggests employees want “work-fromhome gifts”, “office supplies to help set up a home office”, and intangible perks of feedback and regular check-ins. He also condemns managers that are “emotionally stingy” (yikes, who wants to be labelled as that!?).

Australian organisations also need to improve in this area. A 2021 report by Achievers Employee Platform in Australia found that just 23% of homegrown employees experienced a strong sense of belonging at their organisation. They also concluded, “New hires need to be welcomed aboard—introduced, inducted and incorporated into the organisational team and the culture”. And there, dear friends, is where the incredibly on-trend and welcoming onboarding pack comes in!

In short, appreciation matters! And never underestimate the power of belonging!

The Top 5 Reasons To Gift Onboarding Packs To Your New Employees

Need more convincing on whether to invest in branded onboarding gifts? Here are 5 top reasons you’d be mad not to spread some workplace love:

It’s unexpected. And it’s a gift!

An onboarding pack is not standard in most industries, so new employees will probably not expect anything. Cue the surprise and endorphins when they receive a box filled with some beautifully branded and personalised items!

The bonus to all this? Choose your corporate swag well, and they’ll stay with the employee long after they’ve settled in, serving as a reminder of the first day at work and all of those good times.

You’re showing new employees that you value & respect them

As the ‘Great Resignation’ threatens to tip corporate recruitment on its’ head, undervaluing employees is so last season. Now is the chance to create a lasting impression by showing respect to your employee and giving them a feeling of exclusivity. Like they’ve joined a ‘club’ that all their friends only wish they could, too.

It strengthens your company culture

These days, it’s a jobseeker’s market, and salary no longer trumps quality of worklife. Having a tangible example of your employee-first ethos will do wonders for the company culture every business aspires to have. Do this, and you’ll be helping attract the best and brightest to your business because they’ve heard (and seen) that it’s a brilliant place to work.

You’re making them feel at home and well equipped to do their job

Everything in its place; all lovely and branded and tres useful. Think of a curated onboarding hamper as the equivalent of a house-warming gift; you’ll help your new staffer brighten up their desk and equip them with all the useful bits to help them in their new role.

And remember what global management expert Victor Lipman says: this is fundamental to their sense of inclusion and belonging at work.

5

You’re amplifying your social media reach

Your employees are not only your best asset, but they are your storytellers, too. Every photo posted, liked and shared is exposure for your recruitment process and guess what—onboarding gift packs are ALWAYS received favourably.

EY’s 2021 Work Reimagined Employee Survey 2021 found Millennials are more than twice as likely to quit as Baby Boomers. And Millennials love Insta-worthy products and experiences, which double as fabulous PR opportunities for your brand and future employees!

In addition, in 2021, Open University found that 79% of job applicants use social media in a job search. So what are you waiting for?!