TalentLMS, a leading employee training platform, in partnership with BambooHR, has released research exploring the effectiveness of onboarding across generations. The findings highlight administrative overload, the underuse of AI, and a growing preference for hybrid onboarding.
Key findings show onboarding often leans too heavily on administrative tasks, leaving gaps in practical training. Over half of employees (52%) said admin-focused onboarding overshadowed job readiness, while 23% expressed struggles with skill-building due to insufficient personalized learning options, and 39% admitted to having second thoughts about their decision to join their company during onboarding. This percentage is particularly high among Gen Z, with 49% having second thoughts about their new job.
“When done well, onboarding isn’t simply a program. It’s the foundation for workplace success,” says Roza Tapini, vice president of people and culture at Epignosis, parent company of TalentLMS. “Employees who feel supported from day one emerge more integrated, capable, and engaged, underscoring the value of onboarding strategies that balance connection and skill-building.”
Generational differences are stark. Nearly half (47%) of Gen Z employees said onboarding overwhelmed them with excessive information, compared to 31% of baby boomers. Gen Z reported missing the human touch during onboarding at the highest rates, followed by millennials (33%), Gen X (29%), and baby boomers (18%). Gen Z was most likely (44%) to use AI tools to answer onboarding questions more often than asking a manager, followed by millennials (37%), Gen X (29%), and baby boomers (14%).
However, 60% of all participants said they received no AI training during onboarding, presenting a critical opportunity for HR teams to embrace tech-driven learning tools.
According to the research, 75% of employees who experienced hybrid onboarding expressed satisfaction with the process. Dissatisfaction with post-onboarding support was also lower for hybrid employees: Remote employees reported the highest dissatisfaction with access to ongoing training (21%), compared to only 10% of hybrid workers.
“75% satisfaction with hybrid onboarding is a signal,” says Wende Smith, head of HR operations at BambooHR. “When onboarding blends digital efficiency with in-person connection, employees meaningfully connect to their future roles and teams and hit the ground running as a result. HR leaders should use this insight to audit their onboarding delivery: Are we aligning the format with role expectations? Are we being intentional with each touchpoint? The answers will directly shape retention and readiness.”
Importantly, 65% of employees view onboarding as the start of a continuous learning journey, an expectation HR leaders must fulfill to foster long-term engagement.
