ORIENTATION BUILDS EMPLOYEE COMMITMENT.

• Position: Research by Ohio State University - Brief Article

Orientation programs for new employees may have a reputation for being boring and unhelpful, but an Ohio State University, Columbus, study suggests the right program can be very beneficial for workers and companies. Researchers found that new employees who completed a three-hour orientation program showed a higher level of commitment to their employer than did those who skipped the program.

The increased commitment resulted from the fact that those who attended had a better understanding of the organization's goals and values and knew more about its history than those who didn't go, explains Howard Klein, professor of management and human resources. "New employees are like recent immigrants to a country. They don't fully understand the language, history, or culture. A good orientation program helps workers better understand the organization and its goals, and feel more at ease in the culture--and that helps build commitment."

Klein points out that new hires...