35 Onboarding Gifts for New Hires to Welcome Aboard

Starting a new job is a mix of excitement and nerves—and the way you welcome someone on their first day can shape how they feel about your company. That’s where a thoughtful gift comes in. Even a small welcome gift for new employee shows that you’ve made an effort and value their presence. It’s not about going over the top—it’s about making new hires feel seen, appreciated, and part of the team from the start.

Whether you’re building your onboarding kit or just looking for a simple gesture, the right gift can leave a strong impression. From useful desk items to fun, personalized tokens, onboarding gifts for new hires can help create a smooth transition into the workplace. It’s also a great way to reflect your company culture and make someone feel instantly connected.

In this blog, we’ve curated 35 thoughtful welcome gifts for new employees—ranging from budget-friendly to unique—that work across industries and roles. If you’re aiming to make a first day feel more like a first win, these ideas are for you.

Tips for researching onboarding gifts for new hires

Choosing the right gift starts with a bit of homework. Here’s how to make sure your welcome gift feels welcoming.

1. Consider employee needs

When considering onboarding gifts to new hires, consider what would make their time working for your firm more enjoyable. Or what could encourage them to produce more?

A deskless worker doesn't require an office cleaning kit, and headphones may not be the best present for a receptionist, given that they contact directly with visitors to the workplace.

Steer clear of gifts that are just ornamental because they are more likely to be ignored or discarded.

2. Personalize the employee welcome gift

One feels unique when one receives personalized gifts. So, customize them for each person, group, or division.

Wherever you can consider employee preferences, you can learn about some of those during pre-boarding by asking questions. Give an employee something connected to their passion, for instance.

For instance, you may provide them with movie tickets if they enjoy watching movies. You may also give them Amazon gift cards if they identify as tech geeks.

3. Instill the company’s core values

It's very important to get your new employees off to a good start. Companies may assist in ensuring that new employees will work to represent these principles from the first day on by appropriately expressing their fundamental values.

With that in mind, when choosing a present, think about your core principles. You can add the organization's purpose or vision statement as a decoration to the company-branded swag.

Alternatively, you can select objects that might be explained in terms of the organizational value they represent. For instance, if you allow remote working and independence and autonomy are one of your company's core values, a power bank, laptop bag, Bluetooth headphones, and laptop speaker are perfect presents.

Best on-boarding gifts for new hires

Starting a new job can be overwhelming, and the right gesture can make a big difference. Thoughtfully chosen welcome gifts for new employees help ease the transition and build a sense of belonging from day one.

1. Digital gift cards

Empower new hires with the freedom to choose what they love. Whether it’s shopping on Amazon, streaming on Netflix, or ordering their favorite coffee, digital gift cards are a versatile welcome gift. With Empuls, you can instantly send e-gift cards from 20+ global brands, all within a single, automated workflow.

2. E-learning subscriptions

Encourage continuous growth by offering subscriptions to top learning platforms like Coursera, Udemy, or LinkedIn Learning. Through Empuls’ global rewards catalog, you can provide access to upskilling opportunities that align with both personal interests and professional goals.

3. Amazon store credits

Give new hires the freedom to choose from 300,000+ products across fashion, electronics, books, and more with Amazon store credits. It’s a universal, no-fail gift that suits any personality or preference—seamlessly distributed via Empuls.

4. Online wellness memberships

Show your commitment to employee well-being from day one. Gift digital memberships to apps like Headspace, Calm, or Cult.fit. Empuls makes wellness gifting easy, with curated options that support mental, physical, and emotional health—key to fostering long-term engagement.

5. Digital experience boxes

Welcome remote and hybrid hires with curated digital experience boxes featuring wallpapers, productivity tools, playlists, and eBooks. These virtual kits reflect your culture and creativity. With Empuls, you can deliver these experiences at scale while keeping them deeply personal.

6. Streaming subscriptions

Give the gift of downtime with subscriptions to Spotify, Audible, or Netflix. After all, great onboarding also means creating space to unwind. You can integrate these lifestyle perks right into your onboarding package using Empuls’ automated reward delivery system.

7. Custom welcome swag pack

Make a memorable first impression with custom swag like branded hoodies, notebooks, and mugs. You can personalize these based on team or role and deliver them through Empuls’ custom swag store, reflecting your company culture from day one.

8. Virtual event passes

Help new hires feel included and inspired with access to virtual conferences, summits, or webinars relevant to their role or interests. Through Empuls, you can send event invitations or reimbursements as digital rewards—bridging engagement with learning and networking.

9. Personalized digital artwork

Make onboarding memorable with a custom digital caricature or illustration of your new hire. It's quirky, creative, and makes a great addition to their workspace or team profile. Empuls enables personalized gifting at scale, making moments like these easy to create and share.

10. Branded gift cards

With access to over 1 million brand gift cards, you can tailor the onboarding experience to every employee’s location and lifestyle. Whether it’s Starbucks, Uber Eats, or Apple, Empuls makes distribution simple and global.

11. Personalized merchandise

Offer monogrammed or role-specific merchandise—like engraved pens, name-embossed desk accessories, or personalized tech sleeves. These small but thoughtful touches can be managed through Empuls’ merchandise catalog.

12. Personalized digital onboarding checklist

Welcome new hires with an interactive digital checklist that guides them through tools, teams, and culture—branded to your company. Empuls enables structured onboarding journeys and content sharing that ensures no step gets missed.

13. Curated experience gifts

Welcome new hires with unique experiences like online cooking classes, weekend getaways, concert tickets, or spa sessions. With 1,000+ experiential rewards via Empuls, you can choose something fun, enriching, or relaxing for every personality.

14. Virtual fitness classes

Support a healthy work-life balance by gifting passes to virtual yoga, pilates, or HIIT classes. Whether live or on-demand, these digital sessions promote wellness from the start. Empuls includes fitness-focused digital rewards that align with employee well-being goals.

15. Audiobook credits

Give new hires access to stories, knowledge, or inspiration on the go with audiobook credits from platforms like Audible. It’s a perfect digital gift for commuting, relaxing, or skill-building. With Empuls, you can easily deliver these as part of a personalized welcome experience.

16. Language learning apps

For employees interested in learning new languages, subscriptions to apps like Duolingo Plus or Babbel make thoughtful onboarding gifts. Empuls allows you to offer such learning-based perks directly through its rewards and recognition platform.

17. Prepaid cards (Visa, Mastercard, PayPal)

Let your new employees enjoy the flexibility of prepaid cards they can use anywhere—online or in-store. Perfect for global teams, Empuls supports smooth delivery of these cards across currencies and regions.

18. In-house company perks

Have unique company-only rewards? Use Empuls’ in-house catalog to offer custom options—like lunch with the CEO, priority parking, or extra wellness days. These intangible rewards often leave a lasting impact.

19. Charity donations

Let new hires support a cause they care about by enabling them to donate to charities on their behalf. This is a meaningful way to introduce your company’s values and social responsibility culture using Empuls’ charity gifting options.

20. Online team-building game passes

Welcome new hires with access to fun virtual team-building games or escape rooms. It’s a great way to break the ice and create connections. Empuls can be used to organize such digital experiences and share access seamlessly with new team members.

21. Productivity app subscriptions

Tools like Notion, Evernote, or Todoist Pro help new hires stay organized and focused. Subscribing them to these apps as a welcome gesture shows your intent to empower them from day one. You can include such tools in onboarding packs via Empuls.

22. Online hobby classes

Whether it’s photography, cooking, or music production, online hobby classes from platforms like Skillshare or MasterClass make fun and engaging gifts. Empuls offers the flexibility to include such lifestyle experiences in your onboarding rewards catalog.

23. Local culture kits via in-house catalog

Create region-based welcome kits that include digital maps, food vouchers, and local insights—ideal for globally distributed teams. These can be customized and managed easily through your in-house rewards section in Empuls.

25. Meditation and mindfulness app bundles

Calm minds drive better performance. Bundles that include guided meditations, breathing exercises, or sleep sounds make unique onboarding gifts. Empuls helps you curate and deliver these wellness-focused gifts as part of a cohesive onboarding strategy.

25. Digital hobby kits from Amazon or merch catalog

Offer themed digital hobby kits—like a photography starter kit, journaling pack, or DIY baking set. Combine products from Amazon, your merch catalog, and custom swag to create exciting welcome combos, all fulfilled through Empuls.

26. Empuls reward points

Not sure what to gift? Let your new hires decide. With Empuls reward points, employees can explore a wide variety of digital and physical gifts across categories—from wellness to gadgets to experiences. It’s the most inclusive and flexible way to make every welcome feel unique.

27. Premium newsletters or industry subscriptions

Give access to niche newsletters or subscriptions like Harvard Business Review, The Economist, or TechCrunch+. These help new hires stay informed and feel aligned with your industry. Empuls allows you to distribute digital subscriptions easily to match roles or interests.

28. Digital artwork for workspace

Offer downloadable motivational posters, custom wallpapers, or aesthetic art bundles that employees can use to decorate their digital or physical workspace. Empuls can help distribute this creative content as part of your branded onboarding experience.

29. Digital gratitude cards from the team

Gather short welcome notes or voice messages from team members and package them as a digital gratitude wall. This creates a warm, human-centered experience on day one. Empuls supports peer-to-peer messaging and recognitions, making this idea easy to implement.

30. Digital magazine subscriptions

Gift a subscription to digital magazines like Wired, National Geographic, or Fast Company—tailored to the interests of your new hires. With Empuls, you can offer a curated selection of publications across genres, from tech and design to travel and lifestyle.

31. Cloud storage upgrade

Offer upgraded plans on platforms like Google One or Dropbox so new hires can store personal and work-related files securely. It’s a practical gift that reflects digital-first thinking—and it can be included easily via Empuls’ rewards catalog.

32. Mobile app store credits

Provide credits for the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, allowing employees to explore paid apps, games, or tools that enhance productivity or entertainment. Empuls supports this as a flexible digital gifting option with global reach.

33. Digital journaling app

Introduce new hires to wellness and self-reflection through premium access to journaling apps like Day One or Journey. These gifts encourage mindfulness and can be delivered effortlessly using Empuls’ customizable gift workflows.

34. Virtual coworking memberships

Offer access to digital coworking spaces like Focusmate or Groove. These tools help remote hires feel less isolated and more productive. Through Empuls, you can plug these memberships into your onboarding rewards program.

35. Subscription to news curators

Gift curated news delivery services like Inshorts Premium, Feedly Pro, or Morning Brew Premium. These keep employees informed without the noise—ideal for fast-moving startup environments. Empuls lets you align such gifts with the employee’s interests or function.

Conclusion

Onboarding is your first real opportunity to show new hires that they’ve made the right choice. In a world where remote and hybrid work have become the norm, digital onboarding gifts aren't just nice-to-haves—they’re culture carriers, connection builders, and engagement boosters.

The right digital gift can do more than delight—it can reinforce your values, support your well-being, encourage learning, and set the tone for a rewarding employee experience. But doing this at scale, with consistency and personalization, requires more than just good intentions.

That’s where Empuls steps in. From digital gift cards and wellness perks to experience-driven rewards and onboarding automation, Empuls helps you deliver meaningful moments that matter—right from day one.

Because when you start strong, your people stay longer, engage deeper, and grow faster.

FAQ

What are employee welcoming gifts?

Employers welcome new workers into the organization with thoughtful gifts known as employee welcome gifts for onboarding. These presents assist in boosting new hires' spirits and maintaining their motivation in their new positions.

What should be added to the employee welcome package?

Employers can create a positive first impression by providing welcome items for new employees. Therefore, it is crucial for the CEO or any other firm administrator to send handwritten welcome notes. Personalizing goods like journals, calendars, T-shirts, sweatshirts, planners, and coffee mugs is also terrific. To help new hires start work, you can also provide stationery supplies like pens, pencils, staplers, rulers, and erasers.