In a move to support employee wellbeing, Grant Thornton Australia has implemented a “nine-day fortnight” policy, complemented by Microsoft Copilot integration, resulting in improved work-life balance and increased productivity among its workforce.

The initiative, spearheaded by Sandie Boswell, chief managing partner for tax at Grant Thornton Australia, emerged as a response to heightened employee fatigue observed following the COVID-19 pandemic. The program effectively provides employees with an additional day off every two weeks for rest and personal commitments.

“It’s great for giving me some time back. I use it to do the grocery shopping, see my mum or pick my daughter up from school. I also go to the gym,” Boswell explained, highlighting the personal benefits of the program. “Each week I know that I have some recharge time where I can refresh and I really look forward to it.”

The implementation faced initial challenges when data revealed not all team members were utilizing their allocated time off. To address this, Boswell leveraged Microsoft Excel’s Copilot to analyze employee schedules across different business areas and grades, enabling targeted interventions through management support.

A significant correlation emerged between Microsoft 365 Copilot usage and employees’ likelihood to take their entitled time off. The AI assistant, currently deployed to 500 employees across Grant Thornton Australia, has achieved an impressive 99 percent adoption rate, with plans for further expansion.

The integration of Copilot has yielded substantial efficiency gains. Boswell’s tax team of 200 employees now utilizes Copilot over 8,000 times monthly for various tasks, from presentation preparation to tax research. Boswell herself reports saving two to three hours weekly through Copilot usage.

The technology has transformed routine tasks such as legislative research. What previously required extensive manual searching through specialized legal databases can now be accomplished in approximately three minutes using Copilot, with source verification included.

Boswell has refined her approach to maximize Copilot’s effectiveness. “The more detail I give of the scenario I want it to help me with, the better the result,” she noted. This strategic usage extends to presentation preparation, where specific audience requirements and key message points are incorporated into prompts for optimal outcomes.

The platform’s versatility extends beyond traditional work applications. Boswell recently employed Copilot to research event attendees, discovering personal interests that facilitated meaningful networking conversations. “It’s a connector,” she emphasized, highlighting the technology’s role in building professional relationships.

This innovative combination of wellbeing initiatives and technological advancement represents a significant evolution in workplace management, demonstrating how AI tools can support both operational efficiency and employee work-life balance in the modern professional environment.

News Source: https://news.microsoft.com/source/asia/features/grant-thorntons-sandie-boswell-on-supporting-employee-wellbeing/