At The HR Hub, we believe HR isn’t about paperwork and policies, it’s about people. Which is why we live by the MAGIC formula: that there should be Meaning, Accountability, Growth, Inclusion, and Care built into each of the stages of the employee experience.
These five ingredients are the secret sauce to building a workplace that people love And one that delivers real results.
We didn’t just dream this up over coffee (though that definitely helped). We asked hundreds of companies that we’ve worked with to take our HR Scorecard Discovery Quiz and tell us how well they’re doing throughout the employee lifecycle.
Here’s what we uncovered (and what you might want to keep an eye on in your own team).
🚀 Onboarding: Roll out the (Virtual) red carpet
Our survey showed an average onboarding score of 79.8%—a solid start! Most teams have the basics covered: kit delivered, Slack channel invites sent, manager intros scheduled.
But if you want to go beyond functional and head into fantastic, you need to inject Meaning from the get-go. Help new hires understand how their work fits into the big picture. People don’t just want a job, they want purpose. And the first week is your golden window to spark that connection.
📈 Growth: Not just a buzzword
Only 60% of companies felt confident in their growth opportunities. That’s a big red flag. If your people can’t see a path forward with you, they’ll create one somewhere else.
Growth in MAGIC means more than promotions. It’s about learning, upskilling, stretch projects, mentorship—all the good stuff that shows you’re invested in their potential. Small actions here can pay off in loyalty, innovation, and yes, retention.
🏆 Rewards & Recognition: Show me the money (and the love….)
At 63%, reward and recognition was… fine. But “fine” doesn’t drive engagement. And we all know a “thanks” said aloud beats a fancy award that no one notices.
Here’s where Inclusion and Care really shine. A meaningful thank-you, a peer shoutout, a quick coffee voucher “just because” it all adds up. When people feel seen and appreciated, they stick around longer and perform better.
👋 Offboarding: winner of ‘The most overlooked experience’
At 55%, offboarding was the lowest-scoring category. Ouch. It’s as if the moment someone resigns, we collectively forget they’re still a human (and often, still on the payroll for a few weeks).
But this is exactly where Accountability matters. A thoughtful goodbye can be just as powerful as a warm welcome. Help exiting employees feel respected, and give your remaining team a sense of closure and continuity. Bonus: it also boosts your reputation with future talent.
If your employee experience is a bit wobbly in places, don’t panic.
The first step is being honest about where the cracks are.
Want a roadmap? Test out how you stack up against MAGIC formula yourself here. Whether it’s making onboarding more purposeful, offboarding more human, or adding career development into the everyday, the goal is simple: build an experience your people will rave about.
And if you need a hand applying MAGIC to your own team? We’re only a call (or email) away. C
Check out thehrhub.co.uk, ping us at hello@thehrhub.co.uk, or ring us on 0203 6277048. Not a phone person? Grab my book, The MAGIC of HR, for more practical tips to build a culture that actually works
