What do we mean by that?

This what we mean by a human technology upgrade:

• Remove commuting and bring in "Teleporting"
• Give them their commuting time back for Sport, family and wellbeing
• Cut your organisations Carbon footprint
• Upgrade recruitment , Onboarding and training

While we refer to it as an upgrade, it’s truly a transformation. HR leaders no longer need to focus on managing the challenges of remote and hybrid work. Employees no longer have to feel disconnected or question whether it's worth coming into the office, wondering if the right people will be there. This technology bridges the gap, creating an engaging work environment that fosters collaboration regardless of location, making every workday feel connected and purposeful.

Microsoft’s research has identified key barriers to higher productivity in the workplace. With these insights, they’ve tailored enhancements to their product range, specifically designed to address these challenges. For HR leaders, these improvements directly support employee engagement, collaboration, and overall performance, helping to create a more productive and connected workforce, whether remote, hybrid, or in-office.

Microsoft then evaluates the impact of its product enhancements on productivity, ensuring that the changes drive meaningful results. Meanwhile, Gallup has focused on employee engagement as a critical issue, highlighting how improved engagement directly influences productivity and workplace satisfaction.

Gallup’s survey revealed some startling numbers, that just 23% of employee were engaged globally and only 10% were in the UK. 

What’s the impact of good employee engagement?

Microsoft identified those companies with high employee engagement (70%+) and those with low employee engagement, they begun to track their shared price performance overtime. The results are startling, in that a 1% difference in employee engagement had a $46,511 impact on the
companies valuation, per employee! Which effectively validates the Microsoft performance equation.

A number of outcomes surfaced:
+58% increase in Team closeness / bonding which research has shown is the No 1 driver in employee engagement
+32% in problem solving effectiveness
+28% in intensive participation+25% increase in the ability to visualise and change plans
+25% increase in planning activities
+16% improvement in communication
+15% increase in personal comfort at being in a meeting.

Your HR leader and team can play a powerful role in this transformation in 3 key ways:

• Immersive recruitment is a powerful signal of a progressive company thats cutting edge, however, that can work both ways as companies that are not embracing immersive technology can be rebuffed by those who already know its power from gaming applications.
• For Induction immersive training has been found to have powerful advantages (see PWC and Munsters soft skills research).
• People learn faster in a more interactive way, however the message that the company embraces technology to eradicate commuting and give that time back to employees for family or well being pursuits is a huge attraction to existing and future employees.

CEO to drive a company wide plan to develop company adoption

HR's Role: