Employee onboarding and the importance of the first 90 days

The first 90 days of employment serve as a critical period for evaluating organizational culture, leadership, and maturity. Rather than just a technical phase for learning processes, this period reveals whether a company successfully integrates new hires or merely expects them to adapt in isolation.

In different regional contexts, expectations vary. In Portugal, there is often an emphasis on progressive autonomy and quick integration through observation and competence. In Brazil, the focus tends to be more relational, prioritizing social belonging and proximity to build the foundation for performance.

Effective onboarding requires a blend of intangible cultural elements and tangible processes. Research from Harvard Business Review indicates that approximately 22% of organizations lack a formal onboarding process. To address this, many companies are turning to onboarding software to manage tasks ranging from identity verification and paperwork to payroll and cultural integration, helping to bridge the gap between administrative requirements and effective communication with new hires.