The rise of AI has sparked unprecedented innovation in technology. But the threat of job consolidation and AI-driven layoffs looms large as companies look to leverage AI to increase efficiency. So far, it remains to be seen whether workers will respond to this threat with more or less ambition.
Some employees appear to be unsettled by concerns about the impact of AI on the workplace, perhaps because many have become accustomed to uncertainty over the past few years . By and large, today’s employees prioritize work-life balance, mental health, and activities outside of the office.
Our research suggests that it is questionable whether fear of AI will motivate employees to be more productive or take on additional responsibilities. Instead, I think employers need to focus on initiatives that actually motivate employees: a more collaborative work environment.
Fear of AI has no impact on change-weary employees
The possibility of downsizing due to AI has failed to motivate employees. Because fear is never a good motivator. This new threat is just the latest in a series of challenges workers have faced in recent years, including:
- economic uncertainty: Our research shows that due to unpredictable economic conditions across multiple industries, 16% of employees have experienced a pay cut at their company and 30% have experienced layoffs.
- Leadership change and executive change: Almost a third (32%) of employees have experienced a change in leadership at their company.
- Evolving Return to Office (RTO) policies: about 24% of employees say their company’s RTO policy will change in 2023.
Given this situation, for many workers, AI is just another threat to job security. But what if AI isn’t motivating employees?
My team at Visier has noticed that many employees have a new focus on work-life balance and priorities outside of work. Of the employees we surveyed, 67% of employees want to spend more time with their loved ones and 64% want to prioritize their physical and mental health. and 58% consider travel a priority. Meanwhile, work-related ambitions such as pay increases and promotions came in fourth and seventh on the list, respectively.
Business leaders can’t count on the uncertainty of AI to improve productivity as employees cross the line between work and life to protect themselves and become less motivated by work itself. Instead, employers need to create better support structures to reduce unnecessary stress and respond to employees’ demands for a better work-life balance.
Use data to increase employee motivation
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to motivating employees. Before rolling out a new internal initiative, you must first understand your employees’ pain points, desires, and areas for improvement.
For example, consider an organization where human resource management is a serious challenge. New managers are faced with opaque processes, lack of training, and disparate technology tools that cause unnecessary frustration. The result is lower engagement, lower productivity, and higher turnover.
For this organization, addressing the concerns that employees surface about human resources management can help them leverage their employees into management opportunities. With better support, employees don’t have to worry about learning management skills outside of working hours, improving their work-life balance and satisfaction with their employer. By creating a more collaborative workplace, organizations can win in the form of increased productivity and retention of talented team members.
But management is just one area where employees can lack support. Deciding which buttons to push within your organization requires insight into employee concerns and behaviors. People analytics can help by providing the basis for informed decision-making. Using a data-driven approach, you can address both business concerns and employee aspirations at once.
Leaving the AI horror behind
Organizations cannot (and should not) rely on AI-induced fear to keep employees engaged and motivated. A more effective approach is for company leaders to listen to employees’ requests for better work-life balance and invest in tools and initiatives that can help them achieve this.
Ultimately, business efficiency and employee desires no longer have to be at odds with each other. With the right approach, productivity and work-life balance can not only coexist, but work together to help your organization achieve its goals.
