New starter no-shows | Over a quarter of UK employers have been ghosted by new recruits on day one

More than a quarter of UK employers have experienced new starters failing to show up for their first day of work, a new study reveals.

New research from the CIPD and Omni RMS shows that 27% of firms who have attempted to fill vacancies in the last 12 months have had new starters fail to turn up on their first day at work, commonly referred to as being ‘ghosted’.

The findings from the latest Resourcing and talent planning report also show that 41% of employers who recruited candidates in the past year have experienced new employees resigning within the first 12 weeks of work.

In response, the CIPD and Omni RMS are calling on employers to keep candidates engaged throughout the recruitment process, to ensure they’re committed to the role and have realistic expectations. The report also highlights the importance of investing in effective onboarding for employees, to give clarity and support to new recruits as they adapt to the organisation and their new roles.