U of A Onboarding Program: Empowering excellence from the start

The university is pleased to announce the official launch of our new employee onboarding program! A strong onboarding experience is crucial for setting new employees up for success right from day one. This program was designed to ensure that every new team member feels welcomed, supported and equipped to thrive within the U of A.

The launch of this program signifies a shift in how the university positions itself as an employer. It aligns with our University of Alberta for Tomorrow goals, emphasizing the need to recruit, engage and retain top talent.

Importance of exceptional onboarding experiences

Onboarding is one of the first and most important impacts on our organizational effectiveness. Studies show that the cost of employee turnover is significant, with estimates that the cost to replace an employee is 150% to 200% of their annual salary. In 2022, the U of A welcomed more than 1,200 new employees making onboarding a high stakes activity for the university.

Joining a new company can be both exciting and overwhelming. It’s our responsibility to provide the tools, resources and guidance to make employees’ onboarding journey as smooth as possible. When we do, we’re supporting employees and supervisors when they need it most while building teams and culture that are primed for organizational success.

U of A onboarding program goals

The onboarding program is designed to support an even stronger, more vibrant organization. By investing in a comprehensive onboarding program, we will:

1. Position supervisors to lead an exceptional onboarding experience: The onboarding toolkit supports supervisors with flexible, comprehensive tools needed to foster employee performance and create a structured onboarding experience. Supervisors can also register for the Starting Strong: Orientation for Supervisors Onboarding Employees workshop, which is designed to help supervisors learn about the onboarding program and to build key skills that foster employee performance.
2. Engage from the start: We want our new employees to feel a sense of belonging and purpose from day one. By engaging them early on and introducing them to our company culture, values and vision, we create a foundation for long-term success.
3. Accelerate learning: We want our new employees to quickly become proficient in their roles. Our program includes targeted education, connection opportunities and access to learning resources to accelerate their learning curve.
4. Educate new employees about key organizational commitments: The program supports key initiatives such as Indigenous Initiatives, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), University of Alberta for Tomorrow (UAT), service excellence and our Culture of Care. By integrating education on these strategic goals, we are instilling the core priorities that will help nurture future U of A leaders.
5. Ensure well-being: Transitioning to a new work environment can be stressful. We prioritize the well-being of our new employees and provide support networks, resources for work-life balance and education.
6. Foster collaboration: The onboarding program fosters connections and facilitates interactions between new employees and their teammates, encouraging teamwork and synergy.
7. Retain top talent: A positive onboarding experience enhances employee satisfaction and reduces turnover. By investing in our new employees' success, we cultivate loyalty and retain top talent, driving long-term organizational growth.

A success story that builds success

The creation and rollout of the onboarding program is a success story for our university. It demonstrates our commitment to continuous improvement and our ability to adapt to the evolving needs of our employees.

The program was piloted with supervisors and employees in a cross section of units over the past year. Their feedback was incorporated into our new onboarding program, ensuring it addresses the specific needs of our employees and supervisors. Additionally, 902 learners completed the U of A orientation course. We want to extend our appreciation to everyone who has contributed to the development of this program through the pilot program.

To our new employees, we welcome you to our incredible team at the University of Alberta! We are thrilled to have you on board, and we're confident that our onboarding program will provide you with the tools and support needed to embark on a successful journey with us. To our supervisors, we look forward to supporting you in leading the onboarding journey and empowering excellence with U of A’s new employees.