Nearly half of employees with poor onboarding experiences are planning to leave their jobs in the next six months, according to a new report, which reveals how employers are falling short in their onboarding process.
Findings from the latest Software Finder report revealed a "direct connection" between an organisation's onboarding process and an employee's desire to stay or leave.
It found that 32% of newly hired employees in the last two years are planning to quit in the next six months, with the figure rising to 48% for employees who have had a poor onboarding experience from their employer.
"A poor onboarding experience is frustrating, and surprisingly, it can push employees to reconsider their future with a new company," the report read.
According to the findings, unclear expectations and a lack of training are the most frustrating aspects of employees' onboarding experiences.
Experiencing technical setup delays and feeling like an afterthought also emerged as major frustrations for employees.
Overall, 67% of employees said their onboarding was not totally accurate in reflecting their job responsibilities and the company culture.
More than a quarter of employees also described their onboarding experience as disorganised (29%) and rushed (26%). Others said it was:
"When onboarding is rushed, vague, or disconnected from real responsibilities, it not only hurts confidence but also drives talent out the door," the report read.
The report underscores that having a well-structured onboarding experience may be the "most important investment" an organisation can make for its people.
Employees who responded to the report said organisations can improve their onboarding by offering a realistic preview of job responsibilities (46%).
They also suggested a "re-onboarding or follow-up" (29%) after more than three months at the job, according to the report.
More than three in four (77%) employees who experienced good onboarding said they felt more connected to their company than they did in their first 30 days.
"Companies have a golden opportunity to improve employee retention, satisfaction, and performance through effective onboarding," the report read.
