Welcome kit: How to onboard remote employees

January 2019. 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.

Fast forward to January 2021. 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.

It shouldn’t be this way, though. Before the pandemic changed the way we work — and made us consider the benefits of permanent remote working — a new hire’s 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.