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UK & Irish businesses face a costly reality: the average employee turnover rate is 35%, and replacing an employee earning €25,000 or more costs an average of €30,614.
That’s a staggering investment lost when someone walks out the door. But here’s the good news: exceptional onboarding can change this. And it starts earlier than you think, with a welcome kit that lands before day one.
The Onboarding Numbers That Matter
The Retention Crisis: - 23% employees are actively planning to leave in the short term - 23% of new hires quit within six months due to poor onboarding – 42% employees don’t feel physically or mentally well at work
The Onboarding Opportunity: - Structured onboarding makes employees 69% more likely to stay for three years -Proper onboarding improves retention by 82% - 70% of people with exceptional onboarding say they have “the best possible job” - Onboarding kits improve new hire performance by 28%
Getting onboarding right isn’t just nice to have. It’s a retention strategy that directly impacts your bottom line.
What’s Changed in 2025? Four Key Trends
1. Hybrid Onboarding Wins
With 55% of employees now working hybrid schedules, onboarding has evolved beyond office tours and desk setups. Hybrid onboarding achieves the highest satisfaction rates at 75%, beating both in-person (73%) and remote (71%) onboarding.
The challenge? Creating a memorable first impression when your new hire might not visit the office for weeks.
A thoughtfully curated onboarding kit becomes your physical touchpoint. It bridges the digital divide and creates connection before the first video call.
2. Preboarding Prevents Buyer’s Remorse
Modern onboarding doesn’t start on day one. It starts the moment a candidate accepts your offer.
Here’s why this matters: 50% of candidates who accept job offers are still actively looking for other opportunities. They’re keeping their options open during that vulnerable pre-start period.
A well-timed onboarding kit sent to their home signals excitement and commitment. It reduces pre-start jitters and dramatically lowers no-show rates.
3. Personalisation Is Expected
One-size-fits-all onboarding is dead. Today’s new hires expect experiences tailored to their role and needs.
Your onboarding kit should reflect this. A marketing hire’s kit should differ from an engineer’s. Role-specific items show you understand what they need to succeed.
The impact? Custom awards exclusive to your organisation are 8x more impactful than generic ones. When personalised with names, that impact jumps to 24x.
4. Wellbeing Starts on Day One
Nearly half of UK firms (48%) now invest in mental health support during onboarding. With42% of UK employees reporting they don’t feel well at work, this trend isn’t going away.
Your onboarding kit can support wellbeing from day one with quality headphones for focus time, ergonomic accessories for home offices, or mindfulness items that show you care about the whole person.
What Goes in a Great Onboarding Kit?
Budget-Friendly Essentials:
Sustainable Branded Apparel -High-quality, eco-friendly fabrics (46% of consumers view brands more favourably when promotional products are sustainable) - Versatile pieces for hybrid work environments - Proper sizing options gathered in advance
Tech Accessories for Hybrid Work -Wireless earbuds or quality headphones - Portable phone chargers or power banks- Laptop sleeves or wireless chargers
Personalised Drinkware - Insulated water bottles or coffee tumblers - Sustainable, reusable options - Personalised with their name when possible
Workspace Must-Haves - Premium notebooks and pens - Cable management or desk organisers - Ergonomic mouse pads or wrist rests
The Personal Touch - Handwritten welcome note from their manager - Team photo or “meet your team” card - Company culture items (stickers, pins)
High-Impact Extras: - Local and sustainable items - Coffee vouchers for virtual coffee chats - Wellness items like desk plants or mindfulness cards - Premium tote bags or backpacks
The ROI Is Undeniable
Let’s break it down:
- Cost per onboarding kit: €20–€100
- Average cost to replace one employee: €30,614
- Retention improvement with strong onboarding: 82%
- Performance boost from effective onboarding: 28%
A modest €50 onboarding kit that prevents just one employee from leaving delivers a 612x return. And that’s just the financial case.
The real impact goes beyond the spreadsheet. When a thoughtfully curated package arrives at someone’s door, personalised and ready for day one, it sends a powerful message: “We’re excited you’re here. You matter. Welcome to the team.”
That early sense of belonging isn’t just a nice touch. Employees who feel connected to their company are 9x more likely to stay.
Making It Happen with Swag Hut
Your onboarding kit isn’t just products in a box. It’s the foundation of your employee relationship.
Swag Hut works with UK and Irish businesses to create: -Thoughtfully curated kits tailored to your culture - Sustainable options that reflect your values - Seamless delivery to remote and hybrid employees -Personalisation at scale - Quality items people actually want to use
Whether you’re onboarding one person or one hundred, we help you create that crucial first impression that turns new hires into long-term team members.
The Bottom Line
The first 90 days determine whether someone becomes your biggest advocate or another turnover statistic.
Ready to transform your onboarding? Contact Swag Hut today to create kits that make new hires feel like they’ve found their home.
Sources: CIPD UK Labour Market Analysis, Stribe UK Employee Retention Report, Oxford Economics, Talent LMS and BambooHR 2025 Onboarding Study, Glassdoor, Gallup Workplace Research
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