E164 ‘Empowering Employee Experience through AI innovation’ with Workhuman’s Shmulik Barel

Today’s guest is Shmulik Barel, Vice President of Product Engineering at Workhuman – one of Ireland’s leading tech companies that has made a global impact in both Ireland and the U.S. In this podcast, Shmulik shares fascinating insights on how WorkHuman is leveraging AI and innovative technologies to improve the employee experience, drive company culture and empower leaders and teams. 

In the episode, Shmulik highlights how WorkHuman’s platform is centered around social recognition – a concept that enables employees at all levels to recognise each other’s efforts, aligning recognition with company values and culture. Unlike traditional performance reviews that happen annually, WorkHuman’s solution focuses on continuous, peer-driven recognition that takes place daily. This ongoing recognition helps to create a vibrant company culture, motivate employees and boost morale.

Shmulik talks about how this social recognition goes beyond mere performance evaluations, driving meaningful change in the workplace. He notes, “It’s not like a once-in-a-year performance review process. Our platform gives employees and leaders the momentum to continuously engage and appreciate each other.”

One of the most significant benefits of WorkHuman’s platform is the impact of peer recognition. When colleagues take the time to recognise each other for going the extra mile, it creates a ripple effect. Shmulik emphasises how peer recognition can be just as important, if not more so, than manager recognition. He explained, “It’s your colleagues who you’re working with day to day, they see the effort. That peer acknowledgment can really boost self-esteem and build a more collaborative work environment.”

This kind of frequent, spontaneous recognition brings a stronger sense of community within the workplace. It also offers a more authentic way to improve employee morale and keep employees engaged, since they feel seen and valued by the people they interact with most.

At the heart of WorkHuman’s platform lies the use of AI and data analytics to provide actionable insights for leaders and managers. With thousands of data points collected from social recognition events, leaders can track employee engagement, identify high performers and spot trends within teams. 

Shmulik described how AI-driven insights can be a game-changer for leadership: “Imagine you’re a team leader, and you notice you haven’t been recognized in a while. Our AI tools can help you figure out why that might be. Maybe there’s a project mismatch or an engagement issue, and then recommend what action to take next.”

WorkHuman’s AI tool, WorkHuman IQ, analyzes recognition data in real-time, enabling leaders to make better decisions based on dynamic insights. Whether it’s about fostering stronger relationships within teams or identifying areas of improvement, AI brings precision and timeliness to leadership strategies.

One of the most exciting aspects of AI at WorkHuman is its role as a virtual HR assistant. Leaders, regardless of experience, can use the platform to ask for advice on what steps to take in real-time. Shmulik believes this capability is a huge leap forward in leadership development, offering AI-driven support for managers at all levels. “The idea is that you’re never alone. With our AI, every leader has a virtual assistant right there, helping them navigate their leadership challenges and make informed decisions.”

With so much personal data being handled, privacy and security are top priorities for WorkHuman. The company has established an AI Ethics Council to ensure that all data used in their platform is protected, anonymised, and free from bias. Shmulik stressed the importance of responsible AI use, stating, “We’re taking data protection very seriously. We have strict safeguards to ensure that all data is secure and complies with regulations like the EU AI Act.”

WorkHuman is dedicated to ensuring that the benefits of AI are balanced with robust security measures, making sure that companies can reap the rewards of data insights without compromising employee privacy.

In today’s rapidly changing workplace, AI is more than just a technology tool – it’s a critical enabler of employee engagement and culture building. WorkHuman’s platform is a testament to how AI, when used thoughtfully, can elevate the employee experience and make recognition more meaningful and frequent.

By nurturing peer-driven recognition and empowering leaders with real-time insights, WorkHuman is transforming how companies approach employee engagement, culture and recognition. With Shmulik at the helm of product engineering at Workhuman, it’s clear that the future of AI in the workplace is bright, secure and human-centered.