[EmployeeWorks] Allow Filtering Before Searching in Enterprise Search

Summary

Enable users to apply filters in EmployeeWorks Enterprise Search before initiating a search, rather than requiring an initial search before filters become available.

Current Experience

Today users must first enter and execute a search before they can access filters to narrow the results. For users who already know the scope or type of content they want, this creates an unnecessary step and consumes an additional assist before they can perform the search they actually intended.

Requested Experience

Allow users to configure available filters before executing a search.

The desired flow would be:

1. Open Enterprise Search

2. Select the desired filters

3. Enter the search query

4. Search within the selected scope

5. Receive relevant, filtered results immediately

Users should still have the option to search without applying filters first.

Example

If a user knows they only want results from a specific source or content type, they should be able to select that filter first and then search, rather than:

Search → Review results → Apply filter → Search/refine again

The preferred experience would be:

Select filters → Search → Receive targeted results

Business Value

This enhancement would:

• Reduce unnecessary assists and interactions

• Help users reach relevant results faster

• Make Enterprise Search more intuitive and efficient

• Reduce searches that users already know are too broad

• Provide users greater control over their search scope upfront

• Improve the overall EmployeeWorks search experience

Acceptance Criteria

• Users can access available Enterprise Search filters before submitting a search.

• Users can select one or more filters before entering or executing a query.

• The initial search respects all filters selected by the user.

• Users can modify or clear filters after results are returned.

• Users can continue to search without selecting any filters.

• Applying filters before search does not require an additional assist solely to expose filtering options.