What is an Onboarding Buddy?
An onboarding buddy is an experienced colleague who supports new employees during their first weeks and months as a personal point of contact: not as a professional mentor, but as a social guide into the company.
New employees face a dual challenge: they need to develop professionally and settle in socially at the same time. Who are the right people to turn to? What unwritten rules apply? How does the coffee machine work? An onboarding buddy answers exactly these questions that new employees don't want to ask their manager.
The concept is not new, but it has gained massive importance due to the increase in remote and hybrid onboarding. When the first day of work takes place via video call, a buddy is often the only personal contact who provides orientation.
What does an onboarding buddy bring? The Microsoft study
Microsoft examined the impact of its internal buddy program with 600 employees, and the results are clear:
The core message: The more often new employees meet with their buddy, the faster they become productive and the more satisfied they are with their onboarding. Regular, informal meetings (not formal training) make the difference.
Buddy vs. Mentor: what's the difference?
A buddy provides support at the social and cultural level: who is who, how does the organization work, where can you get lunch? The role typically ends after 2–3 months. A mentor, on the other hand, supports professional development over a longer period, often a year or more. Both have their place, and both can be combined. Some companies deliberately choose a buddy from a different department to create connections across team boundaries from the start.
Why an automated buddy program?
In small teams, buddy assignments work through informal channels. But with 50+ new hires per year, this becomes unwieldy: who is available? Who is a good fit? Do meetings actually happen? A tool like Workdate automates the matching, reminds people of meetings, and gives HR teams transparency over how well-connected new employees are.
- Automatic matching of new employees with experienced colleagues
- Ongoing meetings: no rigid schedule, but integrated into individual work routines
- Expandable to cross-departmental onboarding network
- Reporting on participation, networking degree, and feedback
→ Learn more about the Onboarding Networking use case
Frequently asked questions
How long should a buddy program last?
Most programs run for 60–90 days. The Microsoft study shows that the greatest impact occurs in the first 90 days, especially with 8 or more meetings during that time.
Who is suitable as a buddy?
Ideally someone who knows the company well, is communicative, and participates voluntarily. The buddy does not have to be from the same department. In fact, a cross-departmental buddy expands the new employee's network from day one.
Is an onboarding buddy the same as a mentor?
No. A buddy provides support at the social level (culture, orientation, unwritten rules), while a mentor provides support at the professional level (career, skills, development). Both complement each other but do not replace one another.
Does the works council need to approve it?
In most cases, no, because participation is voluntary, employees manage their own data, and no performance monitoring takes place. However, early notification of the works council is still recommended.
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