Unite 2024: Top takeaways for HR leaders

From technological disruptions to shifting workforce expectations, the challenges and opportunities for HR leaders are immense. At Unite 24, the focus was clear: HR leaders need to prioritize Organizational Velocity to drive business success, break down silos, become more agile, and deliver digital transformation. Here are 10 more key takeaways from the #1 employee experience conference.

1. The Future of Work is here: Embrace change or get left behind

The workplace is transforming rapidly. Hybrid work models, a digital-first environment, and fluctuating employee expectations have become the norm. HR leaders must become agile in adapting to these changes. Unite 24 emphasized that volatility is one of the few aspects of the workplace that isn’t changing. Large enterprises must adopt tools that give them more flexibility and enable HR leaders to stay ahead of employee needs.

The Insight Center and AI Reporting product announcements unveiled in the ‘Unily the Future’ Keynote will help HR teams stay ahead in this constantly shifting environment. The Insight Center enables HR Leaders to give employees access to productivity enhancing AI tools, while retaining the governance and control that large enterprises need. Insight Center also optimizes employee productivity, anticipating needs and quickly surfacing relevant content, to offer clarity in the noisy workday.

AI Reporting takes HR leaders out of the dark when it comes to employee understanding. An assortment of easy-to-understand dashboards provide HR teams with a true gauge of how employees are responding to initiatives across the organization. By truly understanding workforce perceptions across entire or specific audiences, HR teams can stay ahead of volatility and fluctuating workforce needs in the Future of Work.

2. Leverage Employee Journeys for efficiency and engagement

Automated workflows are a game-changer for HR teams seeking to streamline operations and improve employee engagement. National Grid’s fantastic keynote at Unite 24 highlighted the use of Employee Journeys and their guided workflows that automate repetitive tasks, allowing HR teams to focus on strategic initiatives. These workflows also empower employees by offering them self-guided access to learning and support content, reducing the number of queries and enhancing the overall employee experience. HR leaders can learn from National Grid to foster engagement and productivity at scale across their organization.

3. Design exceptional employee experiences to drive transformation

Fauna and Altice USA showcased how employee experience (EX) is directly linked to overall business performance. A happy, engaged workforce translates to higher customer satisfaction, better productivity, and sustained innovation. HR teams must focus on creating environments that promote trust, continuous learning, and psychological safety. Those that cultivate this will witness quantifiable uplifts in performance. By creating a space where employees feel valued and empowered, HR can lead the way in driving long-term business transformation.

4. Culture is essential to a successful EX strategy

One of the key takeaways from Unite 24 was the importance of culture in delivering a successful EX strategy. By ensuring that employees understand and connect with the company’s mission, HR creates a high velocity culture that spans physical, digital, and social work environments. Employees at these enterprises have purpose, feel engaged and connected to their co-workers, and strive to deliver their best work. Culture is easily overlooked in an increasingly digital world, but it is the most important factor in driving organizational velocity.

5. Happiness in the age of AI

AI is no longer a distant future concept; it’s already transforming the way we work. HR teams can leverage AI to enhance employee experience by automating routine tasks, personalizing employee engagement, and offering tailored support. During Mo Gawdat’s keynote on Happiness in the Age of AI, he emphasized how AI can alleviate stress by taking over mundane activities, allowing employees to focus on more meaningful work. HR leaders should integrate AI into their operations, not just for efficiency, but to elevate employee well-being and satisfaction.

6. Focus on connection and belonging

Creating a strong sense of belonging emerged as one of the most powerful ways to improve engagement and retention. Employees need to feel connected to their organization’s mission, culture, and each other - especially in hybrid or remote work settings. HR leaders can foster this sense of connection by building digital and social communities that encourage collaboration, inclusion, and support. Leadership engagement is also crucial in nurturing a culture of belonging, as it empowers employees to contribute toward shared goals and values.

7. Simplify the digital workplace for higher productivity

Digital overload is a common challenge for today’s workforce. The average desk worker toggles between 11 different apps every day, leading to fatigue, inefficiency, and burnout. HR leaders can address this issue by working with IT and Digital Transformation teams to simplify the digital workplace. Unite 24 underscored the importance of personalization and targeted communication, ensuring employees receive the information and access they need without being overwhelmed. By optimizing workflows and automating repetitive tasks, HR teams can enhance employee focus and productivity.

8. Employee Experience is a business imperative

Gone are the days when EX was a “nice-to-have” – it’s now a business imperative. HR leaders must effectively communicate the value of EX to senior leadership, highlighting how improved employee satisfaction directly impacts key business metrics like productivity, customer experience, and retention. The insights shared at Unite 24 reaffirm that EX is not just an HR and internal communications priority but a critical driver of overall organizational success. To make this case, HR teams need access to rich and actionable data to understand the impact of their initiatives, Unily AI Reporting will help here.

9. Resilience and Agility in the Face of Disruption

Disruption is now a constant and as such, resilience and agility have become essential traits for any successful HR strategy. At Unite 24, several speakers emphasized the need for HR to support employees through rapid changes, ensuring that the workforce remains engaged, motivated, and prepared for whatever comes next. By providing tools and platforms that foster flexibility and innovation, HR leaders can help their organizations stay competitive in volatile markets.

10. Harness Employee Data to Drive Innovation

Emma Grede’s keynote on the power of data reminded HR leaders that employee feedback is a treasure trove of insights that can drive both innovation and improvement in employee experience. HR teams should be actively using employee and customer data to identify patterns, anticipate challenges, and refine their strategies. AI Reporting will enable HR leaders to make data driven decisions on HR initiatives, and also measure the impact of those programs. HR could take a leading role in surfacing data and ideas from across the business to help engagement, and drive innovation.

Final Thoughts: The Role of HR in the Future of Work

Whether through embracing AI, creating a sense of belonging, or simplifying the digital workspace, HR leaders are at the forefront of transforming how organizations function and how employees engage. By safely leveraging AI, automating processes, and aligning EX strategies with cultural shifts, HR can build adaptable, resilient workforces that thrive in an ever-changing world.

In today’s competitive landscape, the companies that prioritize employee experience are the ones that will lead to innovation, productivity, and long-term success. Now is the time for HR to take the lead in creating the Future of Work.

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