Performance review. Credit: Shutterstock
U.S. workers’ reliance on AI is expanding — even in high-stakes scenarios like performance reviews and layoffs — and the implications of this growing dependence are becoming increasingly evident.
A new survey from ZeroBounce found that nearly 1 in 4 (24%) of employees use AI daily for drafting or editing workplace emails. Additionally, 35% of employees have used AI to help draft or edit sensitive workplace communication.
As organizational leaders continue to rely on AI, there are growing concerns over the emotional toll and implications of AI-assisted communications.
According to the study, 26% of employees said they suspect they have received a performance review written by AI and 16% who have been laid off suspect the termination email was written by AI. Many of these sentiments are unfortunately true as the survey also found that over 2 in 5 managers (41%) admit they have used AI to draft or revise performance reviews.
However, many workers express that AI makes them more confident in workplace writing (51%) and have come to rely on it. The survey found that 17% of employees said they feel more socially anxious writing emails without AI assistance than with it. Of this group, health care employees were the most likely to feel this way (22%).
When it comes to sensitive communications, 40% of employees think emails should never be AI-assisted, while 56% believe AI can help with clarity when paired with human personalization.
Receiving sensitive workplace communications can be difficult to receive, only adding to the burden when employees feel they are lacking in human emotion or personalization. The survey found that 19% of employees who suspected receiving an AI-written email for a performance warning or layoff cried after reading it.
As AI continues to permeate inboxes and reshape workplace communication, it’s essential to consider not only the efficiencies it brings but also its broader impact on employee morale and wellbeing.
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