Onboarding programs have largely remained one-directional, with HR delivering information, managers assigning tasks, and new hires passively absorbing content, failing to empower new hires. This has contributed to new hires’ perceptions of disconnectedness and turnover intention (Hunkins, 2025). Yet onboarding can do more than deliver resources. Empowering new hires to take charge of their onboarding process fosters a greater sense of control (Farmiloe, 2023). This drives organizational commitment and reduces turnover (Peltokorpi et al., 2022), saving on hiring costs and fostering a stronger organizational culture. Organizations should therefore treat new hires as active agents, providing them with opportunities to exercise control