We are exposed to life stresses daily. It’s natural. And in this day of remote and hybrid work, stress from whatever side of our life can immensely impact our workplace productivity. Because of this, top organizations are taking employee well-being with utmost seriousness, and most are looking towards technology.  A 2021 HR Sentiment Survey by Future Workplace Academy even discovered that 68% of high-ranking HR professionals value employee mental health and improving workplace well-being as a major priority. While there’s little we could do to prevent daily life strains, recent employee productivity and well-being technologies like Microsoft Viva and Microsoft Frontline are making it easier for employees to tackle life’s pressures.

But first…

What Are Microsoft Viva and Microsoft Frontline?

Microsoft Viva

Microsoft Viva is an employee experience program that provides an array of tools focused on supporting and enhancing your employees’ well-being, learning/development, and knowledge sharing.

Microsoft Viva has four main angles:

• Connections: Provides a space for employees to connect and build relationships with each other, promoting a sense of community within the organization.

• Insights: Uses data and analytics to provide personalized recommendations for learning and development opportunities, as well as insights into employees’ well-being and productivity.

• Learning: Provides access to a wide range of training courses, certifications, and other educational materials to help employees upskill and reskill.

• Topics: Uses AI to curate and organize relevant content from across the organization, making it easier for employees to find the information they need.

Microsoft Frontline

Microsoft Frontline is a suite of tools designed specifically for your frontline workers, i.e. employees in customer-facing roles, such as retail, hospitality, or healthcare.

Microsoft Frontline provides a range of solutions to meet these needs, including:

• Microsoft Teams: Allows frontline workers to communicate with each other and with managers in real-time, using a range of devices including smartphones and tablets.

• Shifts: Enables managers to create and manage employee schedules, and for employees to view their schedules and request time off.

• Walkie-Talkie: Turns employee smartphones into push-to-talk walkie-talkies, enabling instant communication between team members.

• Power Apps: Allows companies to create custom apps tailored to their specific business needs, such as inventory management or customer service.

Promoting Well-being and Resilience with Microsoft Viva and Microsoft Frontline

Enhancing social connections with real-time communication

Social circles are deeply rooted in human nature.  While traditional workspaces allow employees to mingle and nourish their inherent social needs, it’s tough for remote workers to fulfill this need. Microsoft Teams, Walkie Talkie, and other features in Microsoft Frontline enable frontline workers to stay connected with each other and with managers, even when they are working in different locations or at different times. This helps to create a sense of community and support, which boosts employee morale and reduces feelings of isolation.

Personalized Learning and Development 

Microsoft Viva provides personal well-being resources to help your employees cope with mental health tensions, e.g. breathing and meditation exercises. Viva’s insights and learning modules further give employees personalized recommendations for learning and development opportunities, thus increasing their job satisfaction and sense of purpose.

Enhanced Access to Information 

The Topics module in Microsoft Viva uses AI to curate and organize relevant content from across the organization, making it easier for your workforce to find the information they need. This can help them to reduce feelings of overwhelm and frustration, and increase confidence and self-efficacy.

Encourage work-life balance

The Shifts feature in Microsoft Frontline enables you to create and manage employee schedules, and for employees to view their schedules and request time off.  Shifts assist your employees to reduce stress and burnout by ensuring that employees have a good work-life balance, more so those working remotely.

Promotes employee engagement

Microsoft Viva offers tools that can help employees stay engaged and fulfilled in their work, such as virtual events and recognition programs for exemplary performance.

Conclusion – Promoting Well-being and Resilience With Microsoft Viva And Frontline

It is essential for companies to prioritize employee well-being and resilience in today’s fast-paced work environments. Technologies like Microsoft Viva and Microsoft Frontline are powerful tools that help you achieve this goal. By providing your employees with the resources they need to connect with each other, access information, upskill, and streamline workflows, these tools can help advance positive mental health, reduce stress and burnout, and increase productivity.

Moreover, Microsoft Viva and Microsoft Frontline’s user-friendliness and accessibility, make them ideal for employees who may not be tech-savvy.

Get started with Microsoft Viva and Microsoft Frontline today.