AI fear is driving employees to slack off, show up late, and even steal coworker lunches
As more businesses adopt artificial intelligence , some employees, who are increasingly worried about losing their jobs, are starting to act out. That’s the finding of a new study from Washington State University (WSU) researchers, published in the journal Occupational Health Science , which looks at how AI adoption at work is affecting workers’ attitudes and behaviors in the office. Research has…
A recent study from Washington State University (WSU) has uncovered a troubling trend: employees who fear job loss due to artificial intelligence (AI) are exhibiting problematic behaviors. Published in the journal Occupational Health Science, the research, led by WSU professor Tahira M. Probst, reveals that workers who believe AI will replace them are more likely to engage in poor conduct, such as being late for work, slacking off, or even stealing from colleagues.
The study surveyed employees across 18 industries and found that those in finance and insurance experienced the highest levels of AI disruption, correlating with poorer employee behavior. Moral disengagement, where employees justify bad actions as acceptable, was also more common among those fearing job loss. The research suggests that employers need to be cautious when introducing AI technologies to mitigate the negative impact on employee morale and workplace productivity.
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