4 Ways Technology Can Boost Workplace Culture

Some HR professionals believe that technology is taking the human out of HR, but that’s all a myth. Rather than eliminate the human element, technology supports HR practices and streamlines your business function so you can focus on what matters the most — the people and culture. As HR’s role is gradually transforming, we’re seeing a tech boom that is reshaping the way HR works and how it improves workplace culture and morale.

1. Gain actionable behavioral insights

   Compliance training is more than just checking the box, and you’re done. A simple headcount isn’t enough to truly understand your employees, but actionable data can help boost workplace culture, not just performance management. There are different kinds of platforms available that provide qualitative data within different areas of people management, such as rewards and recognition, talent acquisition, performance management, and areas that impact the employee experience. Use the qualitative data from those programs to encourage and engage with employees about what others are doing in the company and how it’s boosting workplace culture. For example, if you’re using a rewards and recognition platform, send out weekly or monthly surveys about how employees like the program and let the workforce know the results. That way, you’re engaging with employees, motivating them to get involved, thus increasing productivity and building trust by sharing these insights.

2. Let the data do the work for you

   While these systems are vital to people management, they only improve performance management, and not educate your employees on tricky culture issues and solutions. Most compliance training programs don’t provide valuable insights or tap into employee perceptions of the workforce. By using surveys and polling questions, or engagement platforms, you have tremendous opportunity to uncover insights before they turn into toxic workplace issues. For example, these insights can unveil data around the lack of diversity among the workforce based on surveys alone, encouraging you and your HR team to do something about it. Whether you’re an HR manager or a leader of a specific department, these insights can guide you to take action first, rather than be reactive after an issue turns toxic.

3. Offers a safe space for employees

   It’s no surprise that employees tend to avoid HR when it comes to workplace conflict for many reasons. Based on research and day-to-day conversations, employees have experienced the following with HR:
   – Lack of action when a complaint is filed
   – Failing to keep an issue confidential
   – Too involved in office politics
   – Not objective and fair

   Whatever the reason may be, employees are not comfortable talking to HR about workplace issues. According to a 2018 survey, over 70% of employees in tech companies, such as Apple, Google, and Amazon, to name a few, do not trust HR. Thus, reducing feedback and communication to hide workplace problems. Luckily, technology has created a safe space for employees to communicate toxic issues and get advice confidentially. With the help of confidential surveys and polling as well as confidential tip lines and chat with experts to get advice, this can help bring back trust and confidence within HR. By creating and providing a safe space for your employees, you’ll be able to get the feedback you need to proactively boost morale.

4. Puts the focus back into strategy, rather than admin tasks

   HR’s constant struggle has been keeping up with and managing recruiting, compliance, and the bottomless pit of employee files and Excel spreadsheets. However, the role of HR has continued to shift from administrative tasks to a more strategic role. Technology has significantly improved the efficiency and accuracy of managing these tasks so that HR can focus on the people and workplace culture. For example, automation and AI systems have helped with streamlining the recruiting process and make hiring more personalized. Behavioral analytics tools have helped HR and leaders of the company identify key culture trends and create a plan of action around those trends.

If used correctly, technology will make HR practices more efficient, streamlining the business function. However, if it’s used poorly, it can get in the way of managing HR and you’re back to square one. Learn how you can tap into employee perceptions and gain valuable insights into your workplace by requesting a demo of Emtrain AI.