In recent times, workplaces are no longer merely about getting a salary and delivering work. The employees, today, seek so much more than that. That is why, it is extremely important to create a culture, an ambiance where people feel included, irrespective of their cultural, social or economic background. The workplace is where they spend almost 50% of their daily hours, it should give them a sense of belonging.
And to be fair, most companies have been putting in a lot of effort to make this difference – to make an inclusive workplace for their employees. Employers have come to realize that unless employees get what they want and are happy, they can never deliver the needed productivity. This need and thought have given rise to the use of Artificial Intelligence as a tool to help employees feel empowered.
In this article, we will talk about the different ways to help employees feel empowered and included with AI:
By Fostering Open Communication:
Open and transparent communication lies at the core of any healthy relationship, including corporate ones. AI can enable seamless communication channels within organizations. This includes asking questions to the HR or senior management, seeking or giving feedback, or creating an open forum to raise concerns – and everything can remain anonymous. There are several AI-driven tools that also understand emotions to help give the human touch. The HR and the management can then truly realize the positives and negatives of the organization and take action on what needs to be improved. Speech recognition, text-to-speech, real-time transcription and name pronunciation are also possible with the AI tools. These facilities help employees feel that they can connect with the relevant stakeholders in the right way.
AI in Leadership Decisions:
Running an organization the right way involves a lot of decisions that need to be made on a daily basis. And AI makes it easy and possible. From choosing the right candidates to retaining them when required, creating a space without bias, and addressing critical issues in case of non-adherence to policies – business leaders have several things to keep in mind. AI has also made performance management easy, which also creates the transparency that the employees seek. AI has also become extremely important when it comes to choosing the next generation of leaders. This part is very crucial to any business as the chosen leaders can make or break the success. By relying on hard performance metrics, leaders can make the right decision and stay on the right path.
AI to Guage the Gaps:
When businesses grow, it is not enough to just focus on the monetary factors for growth. After all, unless employees are truly happy, businesses will fail miserably. Toxic work culture, micromanagement, bias or partiality, and harassment are some of the top issues that might come to light. And unless it is decided that serious action has to be taken to combat these issues, it can become extremely hard to tackle the challenges of employee retention. AI systems and tools have been built to reflect upon and realize the societal bias that might also be affecting employees within the organization. Since AI is heavily dependent on data, the chances of making a bias are reduced. The performance of employees and their success rate is easily visible to the employees as well as the management. AI makes the lives of the decision-makers easy, by giving an overall view of what needs to be done.
AI to Improve Remuneration:
There are many companies where there is a huge difference between the employees and the employers on the concept of remuneration. Employees believe that they are not being compensated fairly based on the work they have been doing. The employers, on the other hand, argue that this is market value. And either of the parties could be mistaken. AI gives companies the ability to conduct thorough market research and make a decision based on what is it that a certain role or designation is being compensated with. Artificial Intelligence-based salary calculations can also help reduce the pay gap on the basis of caste, gender, religion, etc., thus fostering a positive culture.
AI to Train on Inclusivity: It is not enough for business leaders to establish a culture of inclusivity. It is extremely important to pass down the culture of the company to the grassroots level. This, essentially, means that employees across the organizations should be given proper training on topics like removing bias and propagating inclusivity. There are several AI-based tools available that help decision-makers and leaders create training modules, that are easy to watch and learn. The progress of the employees can also be tracked when it comes to using these tools and completing the assessments. Businesses can also set up a provision to help employees implement their learning from these sessions. This method ensures that the company is on the right track to creating an environment that is truly inclusive and can help everyone grow together.
AI for Personalised Employee Development: It is important for businesses to realize that the driving force for an employee is different from the other one. This means that to enable their growth, companies should promote a tailor-made growth and development plan that is in sync with what their aspirations are, while abiding with the company’s plan. AI-based tools help companies understand what each employee wants and then customize it. Employees should never feel that their dreams and aspirations are not important to the community. And the fun part is that in most cases, the employees’ aspirations are in sync with that of the company. All you need to do is pay attention to their needs and demands.
AI for Employee Recognition: Most research, reports and polls have found that recognizing and appreciating employees for their dedication and hard work is one true way to keep them motivated and encourage them to productivity. While most companies try their best to abide by this and keep their workforce motivated through this process, the lengthy and tedious manual process often leads to a gap. Employers fail to recognize the top talent and go by what meets the eye. This creates a bias and not-a-pleasant experience for the employees who are truly behind the success. By using AI-based tools, employers can not only identify the most deserving candidates for awards and recognition but also use the data to retain them.
The world has changed and it is equally important for business providers and employers to move forward with the change. Businesses, that stick to age-old models, often find it hard to find the top talent. Even if they do, these employees end up quitting even before their employers even know it. Artificial Intelligence has been built in recent times to help Human Resource professionals, top management of companies, and other decision-makers to make the right choice and create a space that employees enjoy coming to. Or at least a place they do not absolutely hate! Having said that, while AI can help in building and promoting a positive and inclusive workspace, the ownership lies on the business leaders to ensure that the culture is impeccably followed. When filling job openings and deciding the remuneration and description, it is important to be mindful of what is being said and how it is being said. The world has gotten much more sensitive and aware, and it is only right if businesses follow this path and remain compassionate.
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