Companies are talking enthusiastically about adopting artificial and generative AI, and many are moving forward with their adoption. But while they are enthusiastic about adopting this technology, companies need to be careful because moving too fast can lead to employee burnout.
One concern is resource constraints: “We’re not getting the additional resources to evaluate the potential benefits of AI,” said Bob Huber, chief security officer at cybersecurity product provider Tenable. “Resources have to come from elsewhere, either by reprioritizing people’s time or by putting other projects on the back burner.”
Employees end up doing double or triple work, further straining already limited resources, Huber said. While some AI use cases don’t require much effort, “the vast majority of use cases require dedicated resources to build, design and evaluate,” he said.
Heather O’Neill, career expert at career and resume service Resume Now, said some workers still have fears about AI, which has been exacerbated by recent proclamations from many companies about how much AI will improve efficiency and productivity.
“Workers understandably worry that their workload will skyrocket along with productivity expectations,” O’Neill says. “But it’s not just fears of being overworked that can cause AI-related burnout. It’s also nerve-wracking anxiety about what it will take to keep up in this new work environment.”
O’Neill said training can be intimidating and exhausting, and employees may feel overwhelmed by the pressure to upskill and adapt to AI tools. This can add to the stress and burnout they’re already feeling. Some employees are worried about the impact AI will have on their work-life balance, he said.
A survey of 1,150 U.S. workers conducted by Resume Now in March 2024 found that 63% are nervous about using AI, and 61% are concerned that AI will increase burnout. Nearly 90% of younger workers fear AI-related burnout, and nearly half of women surveyed believe AI will negatively impact their work-life balance. Two-thirds of respondents fear losing their jobs because of AI.
Steps to prevent job burnout
The good news is that companies can take steps to roll out or scale their AI initiatives without exhausting their employees. One of them is to not move too quickly.
“We strongly recommend that you take an incremental approach to your AI initiatives,” Huber said. “Avoid grandiose plans that require significant resources to evaluate and implement, as this will put a lot of pressure on your team.”
O’Neill said preparing employees for a gradual transition to AI in the workplace is important both to the success of this effort and to their health and well-being. “To ease employee anxiety, companies should move slowly and be clear in their communications about how AI use, training, and performance expectations will change,” he said.
HR departments should be open to feedback from employees about how AI can help them work more efficiently and address any concerns they may have about using the tool. “Making AI a conversation, not an obligation, can empower employees and foster a positive attitude and enthusiasm for adopting new technology,” she said.
It’s important to start with clear messaging around AI use. “Companies need to communicate exactly how AI will be integrated and what the timeline for AI adoption is,” O’Neill says. “This isn’t a broad announcement to the whole company. Employees need to know how AI will be deployed in their roles and how it will change their day-to-day work.”
Leadership should prioritize work for people, Huber says: “Setting realistic expectations at the start ensures your team understands the business objectives and isn’t losing sleep trying to execute on AI initiatives while maintaining their core responsibilities.”
To the extent possible, companies should remind employees that AI is primarily intended to help complete the more repetitive and monotonous tasks associated with their jobs, so they can focus on higher-level projects. “Some roles may be replaced by AI, but the majority will not,” O’Neill says. “This reassurance will go a long way in getting employees to embrace the use of this technology.”
Companies can also provide training to help employees make the necessary transition. “Every job role will adopt AI a little differently, so it’s important to communicate that training will help employees learn how to use the tools for their specific needs,” O’Neill says. “Additionally, companies should consider creating dedicated AI support teams to answer employees’ questions as they adapt to this new way of working.”
