A Cleveland Clinic doctor offers 7 tips for creating a healthy AI-powered workplace

The immense power of artificial intelligence has become one of the most popular business talking points today. But there is a big difference between the AI ​​visions of business leaders and their employees. Sixty-five percent of HR leaders believe that AI will have a positive impact on human resources in the next two years while 38% of US workers are concerned that AI may make some, or all, of their jobs obsolete.

At the highest level, the concerns of workers are not lost. AI is an important change agent that can create role ambiguity. In turn, it affects personal performance, productivity levels, levels of anger, depression and anxiety. Notably, negative emotions such as stress, anxiety, and depression are the leading cause of absenteeism. In addition, overreliance on AI has the potential to reduce mental health, slow employee learning and destroy critical thinking.–all important aspects of future performance and success.

As a physician and wellness consultant to large corporations, I believe the message is clear: Companies that have spent years investing in holistic wellness and communication strategies now need to step up their game in the AI-enabled workplace.–or the risk of losing ground on employee engagement, performance and retention.

Here are seven tips, which will help you achieve these important goals.

Redefine job roles

The lack of clear roles contributes to stress and anxiety, while employees who have a clear understanding of how to do their job report better job satisfaction and performance. In addition to defining roles, companies need to identify the skills gaps that are created when AI adoption changes responsibilities, and create personalized programs to help employees fill these gaps and maintain their confidence.

Double down on mental health

Keep a list of tasks and activities that leave room for learning, mental stimulation and better brain health. The latest World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report states that analytical thinking and creative thinking are two of the most important skills for employees, and cognitive skills are growing in importance ‘rapidly.’ As AI does much of the heavy lifting, business will need to elevate operational strengths such as mental health, innovation, creativity and critical thinking to key machine roles, and place a corresponding emphasis on learning and growing these skills.

Get in touch

Organizations must communicate openly about policy information, procedures and the introduction of transformative technologies such as AI. This will support the goals of reducing stress and anxiety, promoting job security, and building a strong culture and deepening loyalty.

Adjust health plans

Train managers, executives and human leaders to recognize and respond effectively to employee AI and technology-driven concerns, including anxiety and stress. Offer health and wellness benefits packages that include strong mental health support for employees, and focus on building resilience around adapting to change and uncertainty. Offer training, workshops, town halls and more to discuss topics like managing stress and dealing with the demands of the job before burnout sets in or turnover occurs.

Empower employees

Remind employees that AI will take over mundane tasks, freeing them to focus on the meaningful and rewarding challenges that most impact and grow the business. Leaders should empower, motivate, and empower team members to come up with hidden wins and new AI use cases that complement rather than compete with their role. This method helps promote a growth mindset, which is linked to lower levels of stress and better self-care.

Emphasize your goal

70 percent of employees say their sense of purpose is defined by their work. When AI reshapes roles, leaders need to remind their employees of the big picture and why they were attracted to their organizations in the first place. Giving that sense of mission, of being part of something bigger, can help employees become more resilient and embrace a new skill development or role. In other words, their work may change, but they still play a role, for example, in saving lives, building a better world, or sending people to the moon.

Integrate AI into your healthcare system

While privacy should be a priority, companies are already using AI itself to identify and manage employee stressors, better understand how their employees think and feel on issues like work-life balance, and design improved workplace policies. We are also seeing AI being used in health and wellness tools such as digital platforms for mental health, matching patients with healthcare providers (eg psychologists) and more.

Build a healthy AI-powered workplace

Although productive AI is still in its early stages, it is clearly having a huge impact on companies and their employees. AI poses real near-term challenges to workforce, mental health, and overall health. But strong HR, health and wellness functions can play a major role in helping employers and employees alike navigate, leverage, and benefit from this rapidly evolving technology.–all while cultivating productive, resilient, and inspiring workplaces.