Smart HR: Leveraging AI for Better People Management

Welcome to the latest blog post in the AI ​​Empowerment series! In a recent webinar, we explored the world of AI in HR. The webinar was full of insight, real-world examples, and lots of fun! Below is a summary of the key points discussed and some practical tips on how to use AI in your everyday HR work.

Status of AI in HR

We begin today by discussing where HR as a profession stands with regard to AI adoption. While there is general optimism and acknowledgment that organizations need to catch up with AI, there are also concerns about responsible AI use, manager support, and data privacy. Here are some key findings from recent research: Gartner (2024):

• Optimism and adoption: 61% of HR professionals are optimistic about the potential of AI to improve HR practices, especially in the areas of HR analytics, employment law, and learning and development. However, only 38% of HR leaders are currently piloting or implementing AI solutions.
  • Common use cases today: Recruitment, chatbots, virtual assistants, and reducing administrative burden are key areas where AI will have an impact.

• Challenges and Concerns
  • Data Privacy and Security: Ensuring strong data handling practices and protecting sensitive information is of utmost importance.
  • expert attention: HR practitioners must navigate the complexities of using new technologies while keeping up with evolving laws and maintaining a human touch.

Bring AI to everyday HR tasks with Microsoft 365 Copilot

using Microsoft Copilot HR Scenario Library For inspiration, we explored several use cases to show where and how Copilot can be used in a variety of HR tasks.

1. Conduct market research for recruitment

• Yes Copilot prompt: “Based on market trends and leading technology companies, we create a table of the core skills and experiences needed for software engineers at large technology companies.”

• Yes Copilot prompt: “Draft a job description for a software engineer role, including key responsibilities, required skills, and company culture.”

• Yes Copilot prompt: “Review the latest version of your remote work policy and create an FAQ document for your employees.”

Create effective prompts for routine HR tasks

In the webinar, we talked about the importance of writing and iterating on the fly to help you create prompts that will get you the results you want. We wrote some prompts together and reviewed the output generated by subsequent Copilots! Some examples that stand out are:

1. Create pre-survey communication to employees

– Copilot prompt example: “Help me draft an email to send to my employees about my upcoming global employee survey. The email should include information about the survey start time and deadline, why employees should participate, and how to provide feedback.”

2. Encourage employees to participate in surveys

– Copilot prompt example: “We are currently in the middle of a global employee engagement survey and only received 20 responses from across the company. Help us write a reminder email that encourages employees to participate and communicates the importance of sharing feedback. Use an encouraging tone. The staff are friendly as they are very busy at this time of year.”​

3. Assist leaders in re-drafting internal communications about return policy using appropriate style and tone.

– Example Copilot prompt: “Please provide a new version of the email draft below. You want a professional tone, but make sure the language used is empathetic and compassionate.”

Looking to the future

The potential for AI to transform human resources is endless. Imagine a world where HR professionals can focus more on strategic initiatives and employee engagement while AI takes care of repetitive, time-consuming tasks. Integrating AI into HR processes not only improves efficiency, but also opens new avenues for innovation and growth in the profession. Here are some additional resources to help you navigate your HR AI journey:

Microsoft Adoption: Using Copilot in Human Resources (including downloadable HR Scenario Kit, examples…

Viva Community Call (October 2024): How Microsoft HR Empowers Employees with Viva and M365 Copilot

Microsoft Copilot Academy is now available to all Microsoft 365 Copilot users.

Strengthening responsible AI practices

Co-pilot FAQs

If you missed the live webinar, you can also watch the recording and access the presentation below.