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Develop a Comprehensive Onboarding Program

Drive employee engagement and retention with a robust onboarding program that acclimates, guides, and develops new hires.

  • Onboarding is confused with orientation, which doesn’t include important elements such as communicating performance expectations and role-related development.
  • Hiring managers see onboarding as an HR task and fail to recognize their crucial role in acclimating, guiding, and developing new hires.
  • Remote and hybrid work arrangements have disrupted traditional onboarding, preventing organizations from relying on in-person environments for new hires to build relationships and networks.

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  • Get on-demand project support
  • Get advice, coaching, and insight at key project milestones
  • Go through a Guided Implementation to help you get through your project

Our Advice

Critical Insight

Onboarding is often mistaken for orientation, but it extends far beyond the administrative and compliance tasks of a new hire’s first few days. To drive organizational impact and new hire success, onboarding must be a collaborative, ongoing process spanning weeks or months, with HR and leaders actively guiding new hires.

Impact and Result

  • Increased new hire engagement through a comprehensive onboarding program that acclimates, guides, and develops new hires in their roles at the organization.
  • Higher productivity from new hires because they understand their roles, expectations, and how to succeed in the organization.
  • Reduced turnover and better employee retention because new hires feel connected to their new colleagues and the organization.

Develop a Comprehensive Onboarding Program Research & Tools

2. Design a plan to acclimate new hires

Plot administrative items, socialization initiatives, and company communications.

3. Guide employees through performance management

Modify the new hire performance management process and standardize to ensure manager compliance.

4. Develop employees for success

Identify remaining organizational and department development opportunities to support individual development.


Develop a Comprehensive Onboarding Plan

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How to complete this course:

Use these videos, along with the project blueprint deck above, to gain an understanding of the subject. Start with the Introduction, then move through each of the course modules. At the end of each module, you will be required to complete a short test to demonstrate your understanding. You will complete this course when you have completed all the course tests.

  • Number of Course Modules: 5
  • Estimated Completion Time: 1.5 hours

Learning Outcome

After completing this course, learners will be equipped to successfully drive employee engagement and retention through a comprehensive onboarding plan that acclimates, guides, and develops new hires along their onboarding journey.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

  • Implement an onboarding program or improve their current one.
  • Successfully ensure everyone who should be involved in the process is aware of their involvement, and learners will be provided with tips on how to let others know what they are accountable for.
  • Work with and provide a manual for managers to create an effective and impactful onboarding program, ensuring a consistent onboarding experience across the organization.

All of our McLean Academy courses have closed captioning available. To turn this function on, click on the C.C. in the bottom right corner of the video screen and click "English" in the options that pop up.

Course Modules

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Introduction: Develop a Comprehensive Onboarding Plan

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Module 1

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Module 2

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Module 3

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Module 4

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About McLean & Company

McLean & Company is an HR research and advisory firm providing practical solutions to human resources challenges via executable research, tools, diagnostics, and advisory services that have a clear and measurable impact on your business.

What Is a Blueprint?

A blueprint is designed to be a roadmap, containing a methodology and the tools and templates you need to solve your HR problems.

Each blueprint can be accompanied by a Guided Implementation that provides you access to our world-class analysts to help you get through the project.

Need Extra Help?
Speak With An Analyst

Get the help you need in this 5-phase advisory process. You'll receive 6 touchpoints with our researchers, all included in your membership.

Guided Implementation 1: Assess current onboarding efforts
  • Call 1: Review rationale for doing the project and discuss the effectiveness of the current onboarding program.

Guided Implementation 2: Design a plan to acclimate new hires
  • Call 1: Discuss methods of organizing administrative tasks, identify key company information, and design activities to socialize new hires.

Guided Implementation 3: Guide employees through performance management
  • Call 1: Review the three components of the new hire performance management process and how to modify them to meet the needs of your organization.

Guided Implementation 4: Develop employees for success
  • Call 1: Review the new hire development process and how to support managers through each activity.

Guided Implementation 5: Implement and communicate the new onboarding program
  • Call 1: Review communication plan and program implementation.
  • Call 2: Follow up on project metrics.

Contributors

  • George Bradt, Executive Onboarding Expert, Chairman PrimeGenesis
  • Shara Gamble, Director, Human Resources, TAMKO
  • Deborah K. Ford, Head of Global HR, Caresyntax
  • Erin Gordon, Vice President Human Resources, Lindt & Sprungli Canada
  • Susanne Griffith, Director, Talent Acquisition, People & Culture, CBC/Radio-Canada
  • Chris John, Consultant, HR Client Relations, DTE Energy
  • Shaun McBride, Director of Global HR Services, McCain Foods
  • Melissa Nurse, HR Representative, Black & McDonald Limited
  • Flora Pasini, VP, Human Resources, Altus Group
  • Sharon L. Scibek, SPHR, VP, Human Resources, Capital Financial Group, Inc.
  • Doris M. Sims, SPHR, The Succession Consultant, and Author, Creative Onboarding Programs
  • Debra Wooten, Talent Manager, Walton County Tax Collector