The Glue Factor: How can organizations use insights from text analytics to increase employee engagement with the organization?

Can artificial intelligence predict employee engagement? This study tests a data-driven method linking internal communication to workplace connection.

In short
How connected do employees feel to their organisation in times of hybrid work? This research supports HR and communication managers in understanding how internal communication relates to employee engagement. A method using artificial intelligence is tested in a real-life setting to analyse patterns in internal texts, such as emails, and predict levels of engagement.

Need and relevance
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work has become a structural part of many organisations. For HR professionals and communication managers, it is increasingly difficult to gauge employee well-being and engagement from a distance. Organisations need innovative ways to detect early signs of disengagement. This study responds to that need with a data-driven, predictive approach.

From approach to impact
We validate an AI-based method in a real-world context. Internal communications, like email traffic, are analysed for tone and language to identify possible indicators of connection or disengagement. The expected impact? Organisations gain new tools to better understand employee engagement through existing communication flows—supporting well-being, retention, and a healthy workplace culture in a hybrid future.