Tech isn’t a nice-to-have in employee engagement – it’s a strategic necessity

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Carolyn Byer, head of HR at Microsoft Canada, on how the pandemic pushed issues like retention and well-being to the forefront of strategy

IF THERE'S one aspect of HR that’s been transformed as a result of the pandemic, it would have to be technology. COVID and the rapid pivot to digitization have changed HR technology from a nice-to-have to a veritable necessity. Technology like AI is now making it seamless for HR teams to embrace the future of productivity and limitless innovation, and Microsoft is at the forefront. Carolyn Byer, head of HR at Microsoft Canada, says that the pandemic pushed issues like retention and employee well-being in relation to tech to the forefront of leaders’ minds. “Post-pandemic, organizations are carefully selecting modern HR tools that can drive growth and create a compelling return on investment, changing their HR divisions from cost centres into more humanistic value centres that play an integral, strategic role for the business,” says Byer.

Every company has a mission. What's ours? To empower every person and every organization to achieve more. We believe technology can and should be a force for good, and that meaningful innovation contributes to a brighter world in the future and today. Our culture doesn’t just encourage curiosity; it embraces it. Each day we make progress together by showing up as our authentic selves. We show up with a learn-it-all mentality. We show up cheering on others, knowing their success doesn't diminish our own. We show up every day open to learning our own biases, changing our behavior, and inviting in differences. When we show up, we achieve more together. Microsoft operates in 190 countries and is made up of more than 220,000 passionate employees worldwide.

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Will AI fix the way we work?

of people would delegate as much as possible to AI to lessen their workloads

“If we don’t have the tools to gather meaningful insights and feedback about the well-being of employees, we risk losing talent”

Carolyn Byer, head of HR, Microsoft Canada

“Over the last three years, employees have been rethinking the role of work in their lives and what they need from employers in order to be successful. Wellness and a healthy work-life balance have risen to the top. HR leaders had to find tools that not only looked at productivity and performance, but that also monitored factors that contribute to employee wellness.” “If we don’t have the tools to gather meaningful insights and feedback about the well-being of employees, we risk losing talent.”

that technology, ensuring they have the best tools on the market, without overburdening their already stressed-out teams. After all, according to Microsoft’s 2022 Work Trend Index report, 48 percent of employees and 53 percent of managers reported feeling already burned out – thanks in no small part to outdated tech.

That’s where Microsoft Viva comes in. Built on to Microsoft 365 and delivered in Teams, Microsoft Viva pulls key employee experiences into one easy-to-use place. Not only does it boast state-of-the-art processes, but the tool also easily integrates with existing HRIS platforms – making it easier than ever before for employees to prioritize their personal well-being. As Byer says, Microsoft Viva was born out of the disruption of the pandemic, as how, why, and where we work changed completely overnight. Employers were suddenly thrust into a whole new world of work, with different priorities, different challenges and different needs coming from across the organization. Viva, Byer says, helps companies create a great digital employee experience to help their people – wherever they’re working – feel more connected to why they work. “A data-driven employee experience is at the core of future HR and talent success,” says Byer. “Technology that can provide the workforce insights needed to build data-driven employee experiences across compensation, benefits, leave and absence, compliance, payroll integrations, performance feedback, training and certification, and self-service programs is key.”

“And now, with the recent launch of Microsoft 365 Copilot, we have the opportunity to transform employee experience through AI technology. Copilot works alongside you, embedded in the Microsoft 365 apps you use every day — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and more — to unleash creativity, unlock productivity, and uplevel skills.”

While this investment in and focus on AI are nothing new, momentum is growing fast. Over the past two years, organizations have increasingly been integrating AI technology, and tools like ChatGPT are drawing the C-suite’s gaze. AI’s impact on employee engagement is also being looked at, as HR leaders begin to understand that intrinsic link between purpose and productivity.

Microsoft has always been at the forefront of innovation, opting to embrace disruption and turn it into an opportunity for growth. This adaptability, especially when it comes to embracing new technologies, will be key to a company’s

Tablet with emoticons, employee well-being feedback

How Microsoft Viva can supercharge your teams

Upgrading your tech to tackle disengagement

Published 12 June 2023

“The reality is that today the employee experience is a fragmented, complex space”

Carolyn Byer, head of HR, Microsoft Canada

“The reality is that today the employee experience is a fragmented, complex space,” says Byer. “There are a considerable number of HR tools and platforms that organizations are using to support their people. In fact, some use up to six different tools. The problem is that these technologies are too often fragmented, hard to find, and can be disruptive to the flow of work. At Microsoft, we really wanted to simplify the various tools and processes that touch an employee each day.”

Tech as deciding factor in talent attraction

In May, Microsoft announced the Microsoft 365 Copilot Early Access Program with an initial wave of 600 enterprise customers worldwide in an invitation-only paid preview program.

According to Microsoft’s recent Work Trend Index Special Report, the most successful organizations are those that prioritize both productivity and employee engagement – businesses with an engaged workforce performed twice as well financially compared to those with a disengaged workforce. “That’s why it is a business imperative for Microsoft to bring the power of AI to tools like Viva to unlock engagement for employees,” adds Byer. “Copilot for Viva offers new ways to activate and motivate your workforce and make sure every employee is performing at their best each day. With Copilot, Microsoft Viva takes advantage of next-generation AI to accelerate this new performance equation, where engagement and productivity lead to better business outcomes and success.”

Productivity x Engagement = Performance

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63%

of people have struggled with finding time and energy to get their work done

54%

of people say they’re worried AI will replace their jobs

37%

of leaders say their employees will need new skills to be prepared for the growth of AI

78%

Source: Microsoft’s 2023 Work Trend Index: Annual Report

The weight of the workday

Source: Microsoft’s 2023 Work Trend Index: Annual Report

66% of people say they don’t have enough uninterrupted focus time during the workday

This partnership of technology and well-being has become critical to a successful employee experience, with expectations around internal tools having changed dramatically in the past few years. According to a 2022 study from Ivanti, 49 percent of employees are frustrated by the technology currently provided by their employer, with 26 percent adding that they’d considered quitting purely because of that dissatisfaction. The issue for HR leaders now becomes how best to leverage

62% of people say they struggle with too much time spent searching for information during their day

The average employee spends 57% of their time communicating and 43% creating

Only 34% of people think they would be missed in the majority of their meetings

survival in the coming years. It’s a case of evolve or die – remaining stagnant in your current tech offerings will only alienate your current employees and cost you potential future hires. Byer believes Microsoft Viva has the potential to improve all aspects of employee experience thanks to the platform’s five modules – Connections, Topics, Learning, Insights, and the recently announced Goals – each creating a work culture that’s engaged and empowered, no matter the needs or responsibilities of the individual. The message seems clear for employers: It’s high time to look at your current HR technologies and really assess whether they’re helping or harming your employees’ experience. And, if you find the tech lacking, don’t waste time in deciding how and when to upgrade – because the talent market won’t wait for you. Register here to attend an upcoming virtual event about Viva Goal and the future of goal-setting.

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