This story appears in the June 2025 issue of Utah Business. Subscribe.
Does your company have $28,000 to spare this year? If not, when was the last time you reviewed your onboarding processes? According to BambooHR, employee turnover typically costs companies between $7,500 and $28,000 per new hire — an easily avoidable cost when onboarding is done right.
“Onboarding is important because it’s an employee’s first official experience with the company, and it sets their expectations about culture and how their time will be used,” says Adam Young, head of business development at Fluid Onboarding. “New employees decide within the first 60 days of a new job if they will be staying at a company long term.”
Not only do companies incur high turnover costs when employees leave, but the burden of their work falls on other employees who likely already have a full workload. The faster a new hire can contribute to the team, the better it is for everyone.
“It matters how quickly new hires can get through the onboarding process so they can focus on their role,” says Wende Smith, head of people operations at BambooHR. “Structured onboarding programs can boost new hire productivity by up to 62 percent, leading to faster contributions and improved organizational efficiency.”
Young agrees: “The faster an employee can positively contribute, the more valuable they feel. That’s why onboarding has a massive impact on sentiment and retention.”
“Introducing company culture during onboarding helps 91 percent of new hires feel connected to their workplace, fostering a sense of belonging that enhances retention.”
— Wende Smith
Until recently, human resources departments had few options for online tools to help them streamline onboarding and ensure all deadlines are met. New onboarding software solutions offered by companies like Fluid Onboarding and BambooHR are changing the game. With easy access to online forms and checklists, new employees can hit the ground running on the first day.
Jim Birch, CEO of Salsa Queen, uses BambooHR’s platform in all areas of his business. “All of the tools help streamline the process, and it’s easier to handle everything in one place,” he says. “We can use it to manage payroll and everything else. Employees don’t realize the amount of administration required to onboard with paper forms. Employees seem to like it, and it’s easy to use.”
Onboarding software can include features such as templates, new-hire packets, surveys and digital documents. Using a versatile system enhances system accuracy when it comes to legal documents and means human resources professionals don’t have to spend as much time creating and managing onboarding materials, giving them more time for human-to-human contact. The human touch is a big part of making new employees feel welcome and appreciated.
These solutions can also help employers customize and personalize onboarding for different employee groups. By customizing this process differently for each new hire, regardless if they’re at a director level, an entry level or somewhere in between, all new employees can feel seen and valued and like a part of the team.
“Introducing company culture during onboarding helps 91 percent of new hires feel connected to their workplace, fostering a sense of belonging that enhances retention,” Smith says.