Inclusive Onboarding: Ensuring Every New Hire Thrives from Day One
Why Onboarding Matters
The first 90 days determine whether a new hire stays or leaves. For disabled employees, onboarding is even more critical: if accommodations are not in place, if the environment is inaccessible, or if colleagues are not prepared, the employee may fail before they have a chance to succeed.
Gallup research shows that employees who experience a strong onboarding process are 2.6 times more likely to be satisfied and 70% more productive. Yet only 12% of employees say their organisation does onboarding well.
Pre-Boarding (Before Day One)
Accommodation Setup
- At offer stage, ask: "Do you need any adjustments to be in place for your first day?"
- Order equipment (specialist chair, screen reader software, desk riser) with sufficient lead time
- Configure IT systems for accessibility (screen reader compatibility, font size, colour settings)
- Arrange workplace assessment if needed (Access to Work funds these in the UK)
- Ensure the workspace is physically accessible (parking, entrance, desk, toilets, break room)
Communication Preferences
- Ask how the employee prefers to receive information (email, phone, written, visual)
- Provide onboarding materials in accessible formats in advance