A new hire's first day sets the tone. The usual welcome kit, a branded notebook, a water bottle, a company pen, is fine, but it is also forgettable. It says here is some standard swag, rather than we are glad you are here.
A puzzle lock says something warmer. It is a real gift, it works for anyone, and it does something no notebook can: it helps a new person start conversations on day one.
🤝 It Breaks the Ice for Them
The hardest part of a new job is not the work, it is the awkward first week of not knowing anyone. Put a puzzle lock on a new hire's desk and it does the introductions for them. Colleagues wander over, pick it up, try to open it, and start talking. A brass puzzle is a natural conversation starter, and it gives a nervous new person an easy reason to connect with the team.
That is a genuinely useful thing to hand someone on day one. It is not just a gift, it is a social shortcut.
🧠 It Signals the Kind of Place They Joined
A thoughtful, clever welcome gift says a lot about a company. A puzzle lock signals that you value curiosity and problem solving, and that you put real thought into the people you hire. It is a small gesture that makes a strong first impression, and first impressions cut both ways.
It also carries a quiet compliment. Handing a new hire a genuine challenge says you think they are sharp and will enjoy figuring things out. That is a good message to send on day one.
🎁 One Gift That Works for Every New Hire
Onboarding gifts have to work for people you barely know yet. A puzzle lock does not assume anything about a new hire's taste, background, or hobbies. It lands the same way for any role and any personality, which makes it the ideal standard welcome gift you can give to everyone who joins.
🔍 The Best Puzzle Locks for Onboarding
🌀 LoopHole - $89 - Beginner
⏱️ Average solving time: 3 hours
Our most popular puzzle and the best all-round welcome gift. Accessible enough that any new hire will have a go, and a natural magnet for curious colleagues.
😄 FunLock - $75 - Beginner
⏱️ Average solving time: 2 hours
The easiest puzzle in the collection and a budget-friendly choice for onboarding at scale. Approachable and satisfying for anyone.
🔬 PicoLock - $119 - Beginner to Intermediate
⏱️ Average solving time: 8 hours
🏆 Nob Yoshigahara Puzzle Design Competition, Top 10 Vote Getters, Puzzler's Award, IPP Jerusalem 2023
Small enough to sit on any desk, complex enough to keep a new hire and their neighbours busy. An award-winning puzzle that makes a welcome gift feel considered.
🐜 Ant Hunt - $149 - Intermediate
⏱️ Average solving time: 6 hours
A puzzle with real personality and a solution that makes the room laugh. A memorable welcome for a team that likes a shared challenge.
👑 DanLock - $199 - Intermediate to Expert
⏱️ Average solving time: 10 hours
The legendary one, crafted in 1996 by Dan Feldman and called the best puzzle lock ever made. A premium welcome for a senior hire you really want to impress.
💼 Onboarding at Scale
If you welcome new hires regularly, giving everyone the same puzzle lock makes a consistent, memorable welcome, and it becomes a small tradition new people look forward to. For larger or recurring orders, contact us at puzzlocks.com/pages/contact-us and we will do our best to help.
🎁 Onboarding Bundles
- 😄🔒🌀 The First Steps Bundle - three beginner puzzles. Save $15.
- 🐟🐜 The Curious Mind Bundle - Locus and Ant Hunt. Save $19.
- 🔬😈 The Engineer's Challenge - PicoLock and Loki. Save $19.
- 😄🔒🌀🔑🐟🐜🔬👑😈 Full-Set Bundle - all nine puzzles plus nine display stands. Save $216.
Every Puzzlocks puzzle is an original design, made from brass, built to last, and shipped worldwide. Each one comes with a fabric carrying bag and an instruction card.
Browse the full Puzzlocks collection
⚠️ Safety note: Contains small parts. Keep away from children under 3.