A rushed onboarding process can lead to new hires feeling lost in their role, burning out, and quickly seeking opportunities elsewhere. On the other hand, ongoing, supportive onboarding can help new hires quickly become key assets within an organization.
Let's kick off with some eye-opening statistics on employee onboarding:
36% of employers don’t have a structured onboarding process. This lack of structure can result in negative outcomes, including lower productivity, inefficiencies, higher turnover, and lower morale (CareerBuilder).
Organizations with strong employee onboarding can increase retention by 82%. Effective onboarding pays off in the long run (Brandon Hall Group).
The average onboarding cost is $1830 per hire. Onboarding is an investment that organizations should take seriously (Leena AI).
Just 12% of US employees say their organization has a good onboarding process. An effective onboarding process is a rare find (Gallup).
79% of employees say onboarding programs help them integrate and understand company culture. Culture integration is a significant benefit of onboarding (Talmundo).
81% of new hires say they feel overwhelmed with information during the onboarding process. Balancing information and engagement is key (Talmundo).
Now, let's delve deeper into the specifics of the onboarding process:
25% of employers only spend one or two days onboarding. Short onboarding periods are becoming the norm, but should they be? (CareerBuilder)
Only 49% of employers provide a company overview during onboarding. Skipping crucial aspects like company introductions can leave new hires feeling disconnected (CareerBuilder).
14% of HR managers collect all onboarding paperwork manually. Going digital can save time and prevent critical paperwork from being lost (CareerBuilder).
92% of HR professionals are familiar with AI and Automation’s role in onboarding. HR is recognizing the potential of technology in onboarding (Leena AI).
50% of HR professionals believe that AI can improve the onboarding experience. AI is seen as a tool to enhance efficiency and reduce errors (Leena AI).
One-third of employees haven’t gone through an onboarding process. Many employees miss out on the benefits of structured onboarding (Talmundo).
Effective onboarding brings numerous benefits to both employees and organizations:
Good onboarding programs have multiple benefits. They lead to increased engagement, confidence, trust, lower turnover, and even revenue growth (CareerBuilder).
Organizations with strong onboarding processes can increase retention by 82%. Solid onboarding sets the stage for long-term commitment (Brandon Hall Group).
77% of HR professionals believe onboarding will become even more important in the future. Onboarding's significance is on the rise (Talmundo).
79% of employees say onboarding programs help them integrate and understand company culture. Onboarding is the bridge to company culture (Talmundo).
77% of employees believe that easy access to information helps keep them productive and engaged at work. Information accessibility is a vital aspect of onboarding (Glean).
Despite its importance, onboarding is not without its challenges:
The disconnect between hiring and onboarding processes is the top onboarding challenge for organizations. Transitioning from a dynamic hiring process to a less engaging onboarding phase can be problematic (Leena AI).
Onboarding is a top 3 challenge in remote hiring. The shift to remote work has added complexity to the onboarding process (Workable).
81% of new hires say they feel overwhelmed with information throughout the onboarding process. Information overload can hinder the onboarding experience (Glean).
Learning job duties and expectations is the top onboarding challenge for employees. Clarity around roles and responsibilities is essential (Talmundo).
While onboarding is distinct, training is closely related:
The average organization spends $1,280 per employee on workplace learning. Learning and development are investments in employee growth (ATD).
31% of US employees haven’t received any formal on-the-job training. Effective training remains a challenge for many organizations (Axonify).
92% of employees believe that high-quality training increases their engagement at work. Engaging, ongoing training is highly valued (Axonify).
31% of Gen Z and Millennial job-seekers look for positions that provide learning and development opportunities. Younger generations prioritize growth and development (LinkedIn).
In conclusion, effective employee onboarding is a game-changer. It sets the stage for employee engagement, trust, and long-term commitment. While challenges exist, organizations that prioritize onboarding can reap substantial rewards. In an era of remote work and evolving workplace dynamics, onboarding remains a critical factor in an employee's journey. It's time for organizations to revamp their onboarding processes, embrace technology, and ensure that every new hire feels valued and equipped for success.