Have you ever felt like your boss has different expectations from you when it comes to getting work done? With the rise of Generative AI, this mismatch could get even worse. A recent survey of workers and leaders in the UK reveals that bosses think AI can save them 50% more time than their employees. But what’s behind this gap in expectations, and how can we bridge it?
The Survey Says…
The survey, commissioned by Workday, polled 700 workers and 500 business leaders at large organizations in the UK. The results show that:
- Bosses think AI can save them 4.4 hours each working day, while employees believe it can save them 2.9 hours a day.
- There’s a 22 percentage point difference between leaders and employees who think AI can improve their career development and opportunities.
- Employers think the main motivation for introducing AI is a mix of motivated teams, wage growth, and operational profit, while employees are more cynical, thinking it’s just about profitability.
Why the Gap?
So, why do bosses and employees have such different views on AI? According to Daniel Pell, Workday’s UK head, “Leaders are probably naturally slightly more bullish and optimistic” about new technology. Employees, on the other hand, are more concerned about the impact of AI on their jobs and why organizations are adopting it.
The Consequences of a Trust Gap
This mismatch in expectations can have serious consequences. Unengaged employees are already a major productivity obstacle, with four out of 10 employers saying it harms their organizations. If employees don’t trust AI or don’t see its benefits, they’re less likely to be engaged and productive.
What Can Employers Do?
So, how can employers reduce the trust gap around AI? Here are a few strategies:
- Reassure employees of AI’s benefits: Explain how AI can help reduce administrative tasks, free up time for creative projects, and improve their workflow.
- Deploy AI responsibly: Think carefully about how AI is introduced and used in the workplace to avoid exacerbating the trust gap.
- Provide education and training: Help employees develop the skills they need to work effectively with AI and understand its capabilities.
Real-Life Examples of AI Success
There are already examples of AI being used successfully in the workplace. For instance, UK retailer Matalan is using AI to write product descriptions, freeing up copywriters for more creative tasks and reducing attrition rates.
The Productivity Opportunity
If AI is used effectively, it could unlock significant productivity gains. Workday estimates that £119 billion in productivity gains could be untapped at large UK organizations with the help of AI. But to achieve this, employers need to address the trust gap and ensure that employees are engaged and motivated.
The Bottom Line
The AI expectation gap is a wake-up call for employers. By understanding the concerns and needs of their employees, they can deploy AI in a way that benefits everyone. It’s time to start thinking carefully about how we introduce and use AI in the workplace to avoid exacerbating the trust gap and to unlock the productivity gains that AI has to offer.