Robert Walters survey reveals Thailand's employee onboarding process is failing: over 50% rate their initial experience as mediocre-to-poor, 12% say it increases likelihood of quitting, and only 15% report excellent onboarding. Key gaps include poor manager preparation (46% lack), unclear role definition, and delayed access to tools. Poor onboarding extends time-to-productivity: 35% need 1-3 months, 23% need 3-6 months, 20% need 6+ months. Managers are critical (56% cite manager support as top positive factor), yet 30% of new hires feel unsupported. Thai SMEs should restructure onboarding as strategic (not just admin) with people-centric focus, manager training, clear processes, and multi-month support to boost retention and productivity.