Strategic HRM for Multigenerational Workforces: A Case Study on Onboarding Practices in the Public Sector

This study explores the strategic role of Human Resource Management (HRM) in managing generational diversity and enhancing onboarding effectiveness within a municipal cultural organization. Using a qualitative case study of "Faz Cultura," a public-sector institution in Portugal, the research investigates how HR strategies address the challenges and opportunities of a multigenerational workforce. The study combines semi-structured interviews, surveys, and document analysis to examine employee perceptions across generational cohorts, with a focus on onboarding processes, motivation, and organizational integration. Findings indicate that structured onboarding significantly improves employee engagement, retention, and intergenerational collaboration. While Generation Z and Millennials emphasize continuous feedback and career development, Generation X and Baby Boomers value stability and recognition of experience. Tailored HR initiatives, such as flexible work models, mentoring schemes, and differentiated communication approaches, emerged as effective strategies for fostering inclusion and minimizing generational tensions. The study contributes to HRM theory by addressing a gap in research on the intersection of onboarding and generational diversity in the public sector. Although limited by its single-case scope, the findings offer practical implications for HR professionals and policymakers seeking to implement inclusive, people-centred onboarding strategies that support organizational sustainability and workforce cohesion. .