The Invisible Bond: Exploring the Sequential Mediation of Interpersonal Connections and Engagement in the Relationship Between the Onboarding Process and Talent Retention

In an increasingly competitive labour market, talent retention has become a critical challenge for organisations. In this context, the onboarding process assumes a strategic role, as it not only facilitates employee integration but also strengthens ties with peers and direct supervisors, enhances engagement levels, and consequently fosters retention within the organisation. This study involved 280 employees. A quantitative, cross-sectional approach was adopted to validate the proposed hypotheses. Data were collected from a convenience sample of employees through a questionnaire survey. The results revealed that the onboarding process had a significantly positive impact on talent retention. Furthermore, both interpersonal connections and engagement were found to mediate the relationship between the onboarding process and talent retention, confirming a sequential mediation effect. These findings reinforce that an effective onboarding process strengthens interpersonal relationships, boosts engagement, and thereby enhances talent retention.