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British workers have no problems using AI in the workplace. They just want more of a say when it comes to how it’s used – and aren’t entirely convinced it’s ready to be put to work.
According to a survey by workplace platform monday.com, two-thirds of employees surveyed desired more control over their company’s overall direction, while half wanted transparency around technological change in their workplace.
It’s hardly a big ask amid the many changes reported this year. More than half saw their job duties evolve, had to learn a new software tool or saw changes in team size – perhaps better known as redundancies.
Not all of that is down to AI, but staff would like to know why they’re going through so many changes. More than half called for better communication on this front, better training to manage change, and transparency around the reasons for such changes.
“It’s clear from the findings that UK employees are eager to take ownership of change,” said Ben Barnett, monday.com’s Regional Vice President for UK and Ireland. “Rather than simply adapting to new developments, they want to play an active role in shaping them.”
The spectre of AI did raise concerns. Some 38% of respondents said they were worried about losing aspects of their jobs to AI, while 29% thought they might lose their role entirely.
But they also weren’t entirely convinced AI was ready for work, with a third saying AI needs improvement when it comes to automation of tasks, routines and security roles, while the same amount believes AI needs improvement when it comes to coding and project management.
“AI, for all its potential, is only as good as the trust and transparency surrounding its use,” added Barnett. “Businesses that see AI as a way to enhance rather than replace human potential will be best positioned for success.”
Surveys around AI tend to surface mixed results depending on who commissioned the research, but monday.com’s work at least highlights that AI is just a tool. Workers aren’t inherently for or against it: they like AI when it benefits them, but want to be told clearly how it will be used.
That’s only fair given the potential impact on their job duties or even state of employment.
Indeed, three-quarters of those surveyed said they were open to using AI in their work, with the same figure reported positive feelings towards existing AI systems in their workplace – though they did raise the need for better integration and fewer tools to manage.
For those who are already using AI, 90% said that it was reducing the time spent on repetitive tasks, while eight in ten said it helped them work through difficult tasks and boost their creativity.
Research last year by HP Inc suggested that AI could help rejig our roles by offering personalised experiences that might actually make us happy at work, with a survey suggesting that employees using AI were happier than those who didn’t.
