Having worked for a Fortune 50 company, I can say that management at all levels considered on-boarding to be of critical importance, and would preempt other nor

Having worked for a Fortune 50 company, I can say that management at all levels considered on-boarding to be of critical importance, and would preempt other normal business. It was very important to make sure the new hire had a place to sit, a phone, and a computer as soon as they arrived. Meeting your new manager (as scheduled) is extremely important to a new hire. If the manager doesn't show, it makes a bad first impression on the new employee. All of that being said, I will now relate that I NEVER attended the new hire orientation meeting at that company. I was on business travel and I never rescheduled it. It did not seem to matter much for me though as I stayed there for most of my career (35 years).