If a new employee is going to quit, chances are it will happen within the first six months. More than 40% of turnover happens within the first month, and another 10% or more leave before their first anniversary, according to a study by Equifax Workforce Solutions. That means it’s more important than ever to engage them from day one.
"There is a direct correlation between effective onboarding and employee retention and engagement," says Susan Vitale, chief marketing officer for iCIMS, manufacturer of talent acquisition software. "Ninety-one percent of (first-year) employees are retained in companies that have a formal onboarding program, but of those who don’t, just 50% are retained."