Why create a corporate welcome booklet?
During the phase ofonboarding, it is customary to send a welcome booklet to the new employee. This support tool is part of the “welcome kit” delivered on the first day of work or before taking on the role. Its objective is to present the company, its functioning, its values and its environment. This allows you to facilitate integration of the new employee and provide him with some benchmarks. All practical information must be included in the welcome booklet. The welcome booklet should be seen as a toolbox where employees can dive back in whenever they feel the need. The idea is not to throw it in the trash after a few weeks. The welcome booklet also serves as a reference for employees who have already been in service for some time. Since 2002, the reception booklet has been mandatory only in social or medical-social structures. For other companies it remains optional, although highly recommended. How important is the welcome booklet? First of all, it is a support very appreciated by newcomers. It allows the company to enhance its own employer brand. It is intended for all employees, regardless of employment contract. The important thing is to rely on a clean, legible and welcoming welcome booklet. understandable to everyone. Diagrams, tables and images will make your welcome booklet more attractive. In which medium should you write a welcome booklet? You can use different tools such as Word, PowerPoint, Canva, Microsoft Publisher, Edrawsoft or even Flipbuilder.
The typical structure of a company welcome booklet
The word of welcome
This welcome message is usually found on the first page of the welcome booklet. The company manager speaks directly to the new employee. The challenge is to try to establish a close bond with him create a sense of belonging. First impressions always count! It is better to avoid impersonal and too procedural speeches. The new employee will also appreciate that management values current employees, which bodes well for the future.
Presentation of the company
Even if a brief overview of the company is given during the job interview, it is useful to take a fresh look. The company’s DNA, its values, its ambitions for the years to come: this part of the welcome booklet should collect all the useful information you need to know. It is common to find all the company’s activities, but also the different divisions that make it up. An organizational chart allows the new employee to identify services and their possible contacts. Also, if the company has an international reach, it is helpful to provide an overview of its locations. The challenge with this key part of the welcome booklet is to deliver the unifying elementswhich help consolidate the company culture.
Employee rights
Some specific clauses will vary depending on the employee’s employment contract. Concrete and more concise information will be aimed more at employees on internships or with fixed-term contracts. More detailed information will be available for permanent employees. So no, company insurance and reimbursement of travel expenses are not advantages but legal obligations! This part of the welcome booklet also collects all the elements to which employees are entitled. In particular we find the commitments undertaken by the company in terms of internal mobility (professional training, job offers, access conditions, etc.).
Practical information
This part of the welcome booklet will collect the elements that govern life within the company. In short, the internal regulations and the collective agreement to which employees must refer. This essential information includes working hours, the organization of working hours (teleworking, hybrid working, etc.) and health and safety regulations. We also find all the internal administrative processes such as the management of holidays, restaurant vouchers, absences and even the reimbursement of expense reports. It’s not always easy to join a new company. For the new employee it’s like starting everything from scratch. Here we list the essentials to organize your daily life. Likewise, facility access codes, site map, parking access, administrative and human resources contacts: all operational information is grouped in this part of the welcome booklet. However, a relevant and comprehensive welcome booklet can never replace personalized internal support. This remains a useful tool you can rely on to effectively onboard a new employee. Furthermore, in addition to the welcome booklet, you can count on a company integration email. In fact, email automation is an excellent way to better prepare for an employee onboarding.