Dive Brief:
- Big data is having a big impact on our daily lives and nowhere is that more evident than in the workplace, where it is more used than ever to analyze performance, hiring practices and employee productivity, according to the Huffington Post.
- HR leaders continue to try and boost productivity by using big data whenever possible. And since some predict that artificial intelligence may one day replace workers, the Huffington Post article asks: Is humanity less of a factor in the workplace?
- Writer Jennifer Miller says like anything else, data can be a boon or a bust in the workplace depending on its use. But she also writes that, contrary to some views, big data can bring humanity to the workplace because leaders can use it to build a culture that values employee efforts.
Dive Insight:
Miller mentions research from Globoforce, which found a strong connection between recognition by leaders and a positive work culture. In fact, when employees feel leaders care about a more “human” workplace, 91% of employees reported feeling motivated to work harder and 83% said "they loved their job."
Getting there is a challenge, and apart from offering employees the chance to feel appreciated, it also takes some awareness from HR to help leaders understand how data can coexist with people practices.
Miller writes that the more technology used, the more critical for leaders to maintain the humanity of their workers. And that would seem like a perfect place for HR to take command. By pairing analytics with human-driven processes, such as face to face meetings and frequent personal feedback between managers and employees, employers will succeed.
