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How Smart Incentive Choices Boost Successful Employee Onboarding and Retention
According to McKinsey Global Institute, labor markets in advanced economies, though loosening somewhat since their 2022 peaks, are among the tightest in two decades.Retaining employees is as important now as ever.Employees are expensive to attract.Gift cards · Prepaid cards · Direct payments · Merchandise · Charity · Swag
“Labor markets in advanced economies today are among the tightest in two decades, not merely a pandemic-induced blip but rather a long-term trend that may continue as workforces age.”
— Help wanted: Charting the challenge of tight labor markets in advanced economies
8 Practical Tips for Leaders for a Better Onboarding Process Gallup Workplace
Onboarding should be all about making new employees feel welcome, helping them succeed, and showing them that they’re valued members of the team.Bringing new people into the organization takes time, effort, and money. By creating a thoughtful onboarding program that goes beyond just handing out basic info and filling out paperwork, you can set everyone up for success.There are many parts to the onboarding process, and we’ve picked out some of the most important ones to focus on.A plan might include the following:
Two weeks before start date.
Send a warm welcome email with details about the onboarding schedule, team introductions, and logistics.
Include a digital gift card for coffee (e.g., Starbucks or local café) to show appreciation and help the new hire start their first day energized.
10 days before start date.
Provide the new hire a company branded welcome to select their company swag items (e.g., notebooks, water bottles, desk accessories) and logo wear. Using an incentive delivery platform like TruCentive allows employees to choose styles, sizes, and preferences, with direct delivery to their home.
Delivered on or before the first day.
Whether virtual or in person, make the first day an enjoyable experience where new employees can enjoy lunch together or with a manager. Deliver gift cards for local restaurants or Doordash/Gubhub/Uber Eats and let the employee choose!
Include a note from the manager or HR, welcoming them to the team.
First day or week.
Conduct a company-wide orientation covering the company’s mission, values, and culture. Give an overview of departments and key personnel they should know. This is a great time to provide branded backpacks, vests, or jackets. Deliver digitally and let your recipients choose the size, color and style.
First week.
Arrange virtual or in-person “coffee chats” with team members from different departments. Provide digital coffee gift cards so they can enjoy a drink during these meetings, which help foster connections.
End of the first week.
Organize a virtual or in-person lunch with the new employee’s manager or designated mentor to check in on their first week and get to know each other better.
Send a gift card for lunch (e.g., Grubhub, UberEats) for both the new hire and the manager.
Throughout the first month.
Provide detailed training specific to the employee’s role, including any tools, software, and processes they will need to know. Training programs are more effective if participants are rewarded for their accomplishments. Whether a thank you gift or custom branded logo wear for specific groups or completed training, recognition is one of the most powerful tools to foster engagement.
Assign a mentor or buddy to help guide them through their first month.
Week 2 or 3.
Encourage the new hire to take their team out to lunch, either in-person or virtually, by sending gift cards for a group lunch to foster teamwork and build relationships.
Send a digital lunch gift card via TruCentive for all team members participating.
30-day review.
Conduct a feedback session to check in on how the new hire is adjusting. Discuss their role, training progress, and any additional support they need.
As a thank-you for their feedback, send a small gift card or reward, such as a movie night gift card (Netflix, Hulu, etc.) to encourage work-life balance.
End of the third month.
Celebrate the completion of the new hire’s first 90 days. Recognize their contributions and highlight successes so far.
As part of the celebration, send a gift package via TruCentive, where the employee can choose an additional personalized swag item, experience, or maybe it’s dinner for the family.
This plan focuses on creating a warm, welcoming, and personalized experience while using TruCentive’s services to streamline gift card and swag delivery, ensuring the new employee feels appreciated and supported from day one.
ONBOARDING STRATEGY
“”Employee onboarding is the foundation of a successful employee experience. A well-structured onboarding process not only helps new hires feel welcomed and prepared, but also accelerates their productivity, engagement, and long-term retention.””
— TruCentive
Onboarding Week
New hires should go through a comprehensive onboarding process that includes introductions to the team, company policies, and procedures.Second Week
Focus on helping new team members become familiar with their colleagues and the necessary tools, and technologies they will be using in their role. Have a live or virtual team breakfast.One Month Milestone
Recognize new employees with lunch and provide a small gift as an incentive to celebrate the occasion. Provide opportunities to help them to bond with colleagues and feel more integrated into the team while providing a deeper dive into the job responsibilities.Ongoing
Schedule regular check-ins to solicit and offer feedback, address concerns, and ensure that necessary support is available.90-Day recognition
Provide recognition of the successful completion of the first 90 days with a thoughtful gift or employee-choice gift to show them that their contributions are valued.Six-Month Milestone
Reinforce the employe’s sense of community with another small gift or recognition to celebrate the six-month anniversary.Nine-Month Milestone
Reinforce the employe’s sense of community with another small gift or recognition to celebrate the none-month anniversary.One-Year Anniversary
Recognize the first-year milestone with a special employee-choice gift as well as a celebration for all employees at the one-year milestone. It’s a celebration of successful integration into the company and demonstrates the organization’s commitment to retaining talent. Other anniversary milestones may be shared in the celebration.“Employee onboarding is the foundation of a successful employee experience. A well-structured onboarding process not only helps new hires feel welcomed and prepared, but also accelerates their productivity, engagement, and long-term retention.”
Financial rewards given for meeting or exceeding performance targets.
Regular or merit-based pay raises.
Distribution of a portion of company profits among employees.
Opportunities for employees to buy company shares at a discounted rate.
Earnings based on the sales or business generated by an employee.
Formal acknowledgment of employee achievements, such as Employee of the Month awards.
Providing training, education, and advancement opportunities.
Options for remote work, flexible hours, and compressed workweeks.
Policies and programs that support a healthy work-life balance, such as generous paid time off and wellness programs.
Health insurance, retirement plans, and other benefits.
Special privileges like parking spots, or extra office space upgrades and workplace amenities.
Unclaimed rewards returned, always. Build a complete project in the campaign builder with your logo, your recipients, and your incentive selections, then send. Related reading: employee onboarding engagement, research participant recruitment and retention.
