Today we're launching Glint Labs, the new home for Microsoft People Science: a dedicated destination for the research and AI-powered tools our team creates to help organizations understand their people and lead through change. From employee listening and experience to AI transformation and the future of work, Glint Labs is built for HR, people, and business leaders who want evidence they can put to work.
We're launching with two firsts:
- The Next Generation of Employee Listening, our newest research report on how listening systems can keep pace with how fast work is changing.
- The Analyze Survey skill, an AI-guided, no-code workflow that turns employee survey data into advanced analysis like correlations, factor analysis, and attrition insights.
Our Research Drop library is moving to Glint Labs too, with new Research Drops on the way.
The Next Generation of Employee Listening Research Report
Read the full report on Glint Labs
Organizations have more ways than ever to hear from employees. But more channels don't automatically lead to better decisions. To understand where listening is headed, we surveyed 103 enterprise employee listening leaders across eight countries and 500 US employees and people managers, and spoke with 29 listening practitioners, partners, and customers.
Here's some of what we found.
More listening isn't better understanding
74% of listening leaders are expanding their listening channels. Yet only 1 in 3 rate their listening systems as strong or best-in-class at influencing business decisions and connecting listening data to meaningful outcomes. More signal, on its own, doesn't produce more influence.
Need-centered listening starts with the question, not the program
The questions organizations need to answer are moving fast. AI went from the 14th most-asked-about topic in employee surveys last year to the #1 priority listening leaders plan to focus on over the next 12 to 18 months.
When needs shift that quickly, a listening system built around established programs can struggle to keep up. The report makes the case for need-centered listening: starting with what the organization needs to understand, then choosing the voices, evidence, and methods that fit.
AI raises the stakes for right-fit listening
83% of listening leaders believe AI will fundamentally change how organizations act on insights, but only 43% say their organization has a clear point of view on which AI-enabled listening use cases to prioritize. Today, AI adoption is concentrated in analysis rather than in how organizations act on what they learn.
What a right-fit system looks like
The goal isn't maximum listening. It's enough credible understanding to support a consequential choice. The report offers five principles for a right-fit listening system: trustworthy, intelligent, responsive, embedded, and outcome-driven.
Before your next listening effort, try asking: What are we trying to understand, and what would we lose if a survey were unavailable?
Read the full report on Glint Labs
Explore all the findings, including the five principles, where AI is entering the listening system, and practical questions for your team.
👉 Read The Next Generation of Employee Listening: https://aka.ms/nextgenlistening
🔬 Explore Glint Labs: https://aka.ms/glintlabs
Microsoft