Reinventing Employee Onboarding -- Journal Article

The first day on the job at a new organization is commonly structured around introducing employees to the work environment and company culture. The authors found that the traditional methods of onboarding have some serious weaknesses. Subordinating one's identity and unique perspectives may not be optimal in the long run for either the organization or the individual employee. Socialization practices that get newcomers to behave inauthentically might not be sustainable and do not address broader issues concerning emotional exhaustion and work dissatisfaction. In studying how organizations onboard new employees, the authors developed a different approach, which they refer to as "personal-identity socialization," that had positive long-lasting effects for both companies and employees. Giving newcomers the opportunity to express themselves at work bolstered employees' self-esteen and allowed them to express a positive identity during a period that employees often find stressful. By making relatively small investments in socialization practices, the authors found that companies can make significant improvements in employee retention and engagement.