Microsoft Corporation recently released the Work Trend Index Pulse report, “Hybrid Work Is Just Work. Are We Doing It Wrong?” in conjunction with the launch of new Microsoft Viva, an employee experience platform designed to help empower and energize employees in these tough economic times.

Employees and leaders are increasingly at odds over what constitutes productivity, how to maintain autonomy while ensuring accountability, the benefits of flexibility, and the office’s function.

A new approach is required to bridge this gap, one that recognises work as an experience that transcends time and space so employees can stay engaged and connected no matter where they are working.

Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO, Microsoft says thriving employees are what will give organisations a competitive advantage in today’s dynamic economic environment.

“Today, we’re announcing new innovations across our employee experience platform Microsoft Viva to help leaders end productivity paranoia, rebuild social capital, and re-recruit and re-energise their employees.” says Nadella

To help leaders navigate the new realities of work, the Work Trend Index Pulse report points to three urgent pivots every leader should make: 

1.     End productivity paranoia: 87% of employees report they are productive at work, but 85% of leaders say the shift to hybrid work has made it challenging to have confidence their employees are being productive. Leaders need to create clarity and alignment around company goals, eliminate busywork that doesn’t support those goals and listen to their people — 57% of companies are rarely, if ever, collecting employee feedback. 

2.     Embrace that people come in for each other: 73% of employees say they need a better reason to go into the office besides company expectations — but they would be motivated to go in if they could socialise with co-workers (84%) or rebuild team bonds (85%). Digital communication will be crucial to keep people connected inside and out the office — both employees and leaders rank communication as the No. 1 most critical skill needed to be successful in their roles this year. 

3.     Re-skill to re-recruit your employees: 55% of employees say the best way to develop their skills is to change companies. However, they also say they would stay longer at their company if it was easier to change jobs internally (68%) or if they could benefit more from learning and development support (76%). 

Microsoft is expanding its employee experience platform Microsoft Viva to help companies deliver an employee experience optimised for the way people work now to address these challenges.

Microsoft announces several new and enhanced capabilities coming to Viva: 

In order to streamline access to Viva and help workers start their day on the right foot, Viva Connections will combine all of Viva’s applications into one location, and Viva’s briefing emails will offer more individualised productivity suggestions so workers can catch up on work, meetings, and learning.

Read the new Work Trend Index Pulse report to find out when the new Viva features will be deployed.