HR Glossary  /  Recruitment and Hiring  /  Onboarding

Onboarding

What is onboarding?

Employee onboarding is the process of introducing an employee to the company through a series of tasks that take place over several months. This process is designed to allow the employee to understand their role and responsibilities and progress through the organization.  Although similar to orientation, there are some significant differences.

What is the difference between orientation and onboarding? 

Orientation is typically a one-time event and generally takes place during the first few weeks of employment. Although the process includes an orientation, onboarding takes place over several months as new hires are introduced to and integrated into the organization. Orientation is generally handled by human resources, while the employee’s direct supervisor is largely responsible for job-specific education. 

Why is it’s important? 

The objective of onboarding is to ensure an employee feels connected to the organization, builds key relationships, and understands how they fit into the overall mission and values of the organization. Effective onboarding contributes to successful outcomes for employees by communicating expectations and processes for meeting and exceeding those expectations. The key to an effective onboarding process is to provide the employee with the tools and experiences needed to be successful in the long term. The return on how well this process is carried out is significant, including increased retention, engagement, and productivity. 

Resources available on HRdownloads

You can downloads the following resources as an HRdownloads customer:

  • Hiring Checklist  
  • Onboarding Policy  
  • Best Practice Guide 

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