If a “leadership vacuum” persists at work and leaders do not communicate about new tools, employees may feel more anxiety about artificial intelligence and other new technologies in the workplace, according to a Nov. 5 report from Mercer.
Notably, fewer than 20% of employees say they’ve heard from their direct manager or supervisor about the impact of AI on their job or the business. This communication gap could be fueling uncertainty and workplace disruption related to employees’ skills and roles, the report found.
“Effective leadership in the AI era requires more than announcements about the latest AI tool — it demands visible engagement, honest communication and modeling adaptability,” Ravin Jesuthasan, Mercer’s global transformation leader, said in a statement.
“To address fear of technology’s impact on work, leaders must acknowledge uncertainty, prioritize the redesign of work and walk through change with their teams,” Jesuthasan added.
In a survey of 8,500 workers worldwide, employees expressed greater concern about AI and the impact on their jobs in countries with higher workplace AI use. Anxiety was particularly heightened among those in the tech industry.
Managers and executives expressed the most concerns about new tech changing their roles, compared to professional workers and hourly workers. At the same time, managers play a critical role in alleviating workforce fears, the report found.
Fewer than 25% of employees said they’ve heard from their CEO about the impact of AI on the business, and only 13% had heard from HR about AI effects. Employees placed greater trust in their immediate managers than the C-suite, yet managers also felt stuck by a lack of clear direction around AI strategy for their teams.
To fill the leadership vacuum, Mercer recommended manager training, upskilling in AI fluency and creating psychological safety by encouraging employees to take risks and apply new skills. Employees who spent more time on learning were also more likely to say their manager supports their career advancement and they feel a genuine sense of belonging on their team.
In addition, senior leaders can alleviate workers’ worries about job security through clear communication and training, according to a survey by Express Employment Professionals–Harris Poll. Nearly 90% of hiring managers said their organization has taken steps to improve feelings of job security, most commonly through upskilling.
While improving their communication, managers and supervisors can use AI-assisted writing tools for grammar and editing, as long as they don’t rely too heavily on it, according to a study published in the International Journal of Business Communication. In particular, employees may lose trust in managers who use AI for messages that require human interaction or subjective input.
Recent reductions in middle management may also put pressure on workplace communication, organizational productivity and the employee experience, according to a Firstup report. Front-line workers depend on their managers for clarity and human-focused support, yet more than a third of employees said their manager seems stretched thin and has become less accessible since layoffs.
