It's hard to avoid mishaps during the first days and weeks of a new job, and it's partially the boss' fault.

A survey by OfficeTeam, a staffing firm, found that more than half of employees report that their employers failed to provide them one or more basic things to help them work effectively. Many encountered technological problems, such as phones and computers not being set up, while many reported that their superiors didn't introduce them to coworkers or provide them basic education on company policies.

  • 33% say that a critical technological service wasn't properly set up

  • 22% say that necessary supplies were missing

  • 16% did not receive an overview of the company and its policies

  • 15% weren't introduced to fellow coworkers

  • 14% did not receive a tour of the office

Less than half of respondents — 46% — reported experiencing none of the above issues in their workplaces. HR professionals appear to be aware of the shortcomings of their companies in getting workers set up, since only 50% of those surveyed said they believed their company had a “very effective” onboarding process for new employees.

But very few HR pros believe their company is atrocious in that regard; 42% say the company onboarding process is “somewhat” effective, while only 6% say it is not very effective and only 2% say it is not at all effective.

“Many companies focus so much on information-sharing during an onboarding process that they may overlook basic practical needs, such as making sure that a workstation is up and running for the employee,” Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam, said. “Every touchpoint during those first days adds to the new staff member's perception of the organization, so the more you can do to ensure everything runs smoothly, the more positive that impression will be.”

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