Redefining Onboarding

The transition to hybrid work environments due to digitalization and the COVID-19 pandemic presents challenges for onboarding new employees. The changed work environment following the end of the pandemic, along with the war for talent, requires companies to adapt existing processes to successfully and sustainably integrate new employees from the moment they join the organization. The author identifies challenges and success factors for hybrid onboarding of knowledge workers to optimize onboarding adjustments to the hybrid context. The results from expert interviews suggest that success factors for hybrid onboarding can be structured into five areas found in the literature: Compliance, Clarification, Culture, Connection, and Process. Specifically for the hybrid onboarding context, the challenges of technology and social distance are relevant, and consequently, the factors for hybrid onboarding that address these challenges include utilizing personal contact on-site, integrating digital solutions, particularly for professional training, and flexibly combining work locations. The work attests to dynamic developments for hybrid onboarding in the future.