Howard Employee Services - Ellen Howard’s Post

Whether AI exacerbates or alleviates burnout depends on how thoughtfully it’s implemented—and how well organizations support their employees through the transition. https://lnkd.in/e-CR9Nhp

As #AI transforms our work environments, its impact on #productivity and #mentalhealth is more significant than ever. Discover how MeTime Healing is leveraging AI to foster healthier, more efficient workplaces in our latest blog post on #Medium. 🌟 AI offers incredible opportunities, from automating tasks to reducing burnout and boosting job satisfaction. But it also brings challenges we must address. Dive into the latest data, insights, and our commitment to supporting employees through these changes. Ready to explore the future of AI and mental health? 👉 Click the link to read more! #AI #MentalHealth #WorkplaceWellness #Productivity #MeTimeHealing #AIinWorkplace #MentalHealthSupport #FutureOfWork #Innovation https://lnkd.in/exeFsBKZ

Have you considered the mental health and wellbeing effects of AI? I hadn't either .. until I read Helen Cook's article. Helen Chief People and Communications Officer at Finastra shared an interesting perspective on how using AI tools for more basic tasks can lead to a shift in people's own sense of satisfaction, productivity and efficiency, as they're only left with highly complexed tasks. This can lead to: 📈 Increase in stress levels as people are only processing highly complex tasks and more frequently as the world of business moves faster and faster where humans try to keep up with the AI pace of change A few things we can do to mitigate these risks: ❤ Educate and encourage leaders to understand the importance of their own wellbeing e.g. eating well, sleeping, taking regular breaks, exercise etc. with the aim of having a healthy, more engaged, motivated workforce 🤝🏻 Encourage leaders to support their team with honesty and humility ~ we're all in this so we need to respond with empathy and encourage test and learn approaches as it may take some time for us to adjust We're at the forefront as AI and human capability become interdependent and to be able to cope we need to adapt our practices and work life balance as 💥 it's coming whether we like it or not!! 💥 Thanks for sharing your interesting perspective Helen - it really got me thinking differently. #aiwellbeing #mentalhealth #wellbeing #finastra

The need for AI literacy is real. It’s high time we teach our students the constructive use of AI, such as time and work management. Brainly’s Test Prep, an AI-driven tool, develops much needed skills and bolsters overall understanding of AI use. Our new feature uses AI to generate personalized study experiences, boosting confidence and reducing anxiety. Thanks Bryan Robinson and Forbes for including Brainly in “6 Strategies To Alleviate Employees’ Fears Of AI In 2024.” https://lnkd.in/eNz5BF4v #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #AIforEducation #EdTech

Emotion AI and workplace stress: connecting the dots The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace is transforming how we work, but it is also reshaping how we experience stress. Emotion AI, which interprets human emotions using data like facial expressions, speech, and physiological signals, offers an innovative tool to understand and manage these shifts. By connecting Emotion AI with the psychological impact of workplace AI adoption, we can uncover powerful intersections that are deeply relevant to employees, organizations, and the future of work. How emotion AI intersects with workplace stress Emotion AI has the ability to analyze and respond to employees’ emotional states, which can be vital in workplaces increasingly dominated by AI technologies. Studies highlight two key dimensions: Stress monitoring: AI-driven systems can assess stress levels through speech and physiological signals, offering insights for timely interventions. AI-induced stress: The rapid adoption of AI systems in the workplace can itself be a source of stress, triggering uncertainty, skill gaps, and ethical concerns. Emotion AI can help address these stressors by providing empathetic and adaptive support. Why this intersection matters AI, while enhancing efficiency, introduces new challenges for employees. Fear of job displacement, overwhelming technological changes, and ethical concerns over data privacy can elevate workplace stress. At the same time, AI tools like Emotion AI offer solutions by identifying emotional distress and guiding interventions to improve well-being. This duality underscores the need to leverage AI responsibly to mitigate its own unintended consequences. Building healthier, AI-enabled workplaces Emotion AI can play a critical role in shaping healthier work environments. For example: Empathy-driven management: Emotion AI systems can guide managers to better understand team morale, making leadership more human-centered. Real-time stress support: These systems can provide feedback on stress patterns, enabling employees to adjust their workload or approach. Ethical implementation of AI: Addressing the ethical challenges of AI adoption, such as transparency and privacy, reduces stress related to mistrust or misuse of technology. Emotion AI sits at the intersection of opportunity and responsibility. It has the potential to transform workplaces by addressing emotional and psychological challenges while raising ethical concerns that organizations must navigate. By fostering this balance, organizations can unlock AI’s true potential—not just for efficiency but for building emotionally intelligent, stress-aware environments. #EmotionAI #WorkplaceAI #StressManagement #EthicalAI #FutureOfWork

Got “technostress”? How to process AI before it processes you https://ift.tt/U5fuZ8y As companies around the world are being pushed to quickly implement AI solutions that bring convenience and speed to stay relevant, they often overlook the most important element of successful AI implementation — their employees.  Emerging research shows that AI completely changes how we work, come up with ideas and interact with each other. And if the technology is implemented poorly, it carries potential problems — including to our mental health, decision-making abilities and sense of agency that is crucial for our overall well-being.  If we want to stay relevant in the future of work, we need to reframe the question of ‘what can AI do’ and make sure that we’re mastering the skills that the technology can’t. We need to process AI before it processes us.  Finding our connections Nowadays, around 50% of employees already interact with AI daily. As some tasks are more efficiently handled by AI than humans, this completely alters the dynamics within organizations. When employees are less likely to reach out to colleagues for small questions, this cuts the “weak ties” that are essential for human wellbeing, but also for the sense of affiliation and belonging to an organization.  Research shows that increased AI interaction makes people want to belong to a group and establish social contacts with others more, but also increases loneliness. This depends on the personal attachment style and the strategies that employees are using. Employees with adaptive coping behavior reach out more to human colleagues and build relationships with them as they start using AI. However, employees with maladaptive strategies (for example, experiencing attachment anxiety), end up feeling socially deprived and lonely as a result of increased AI usage, which potentially can affect their mental health.  When an organization implements AI, it is highly recommended that it encourages socialization among employees and offers alternative ways to do it. It is also important to consider individual attachment styles of employees when implementing AI and making sure those at risk (for example, experiencing attachment-related trauma) have access to psychological support. Seeing the bigger picture Creativity is often named as one of the key human qualities that should help people stay relevant and keep their jobs in the age of AI. In order to be creative, neuroscience says that a person needs an empty brain and time for it to wander. Most of us, however, don’t have the time and space to be creative, as we are constantly overloading our brains with different digital noise — notifications, emails, news, calls, etc. When our brains are overwhelmed and we are short of time, instead of using all brain networks for creativity, we tend to outsource to AI at least part of the creative process, for example, the idea generation stage. So the job that was supposed to stay with humans is incre...

AI is ushering in a new era, but its impact depends on us. Let's shape a future where technology enhances, not hinders, our well-being. It's time to be proactive. #AI #future #technology #wellbeing #AI

While AI tools at work bring convenience and speed, their mindless implementation can come at a cost for our people. If we want to live harmoniously with AI, we need to avoid innovation for innovation’s sake. Consider both short-term and long-term consequences of implementing it, and address the risks proactively.

✨"AI is neither good nor bad. It’s how it’s used to improve humanity that matters in the final analysis."✨ This Forbes outlining a study by Quantum Workplace into the prevalence of burnout does a great job of outlining what burnout is, and some of the tips for managers are helpful. However, the statement that "too much AI can cause burnout" is a misleading oversimplification. What this study shows is correlation, not causation. Further, the article fails to uncover the deeper preventative strategies leaders can implement to embed wellbeing in the workplace and reduce burnout as a result. Many of the findings are similar to those in the State of Workplace Burnout 2024, which Infinite Potential published earlier this year. And John Chan, Ph.D. and I are starting to prepare our study this year. I'm curious: what would you like to see us explore in this year's burnout and wellbeing research? #burnout #burnoutresearch #burnoutprevention #infinitepotential https://lnkd.in/gCqFYhqi

The rise of AI in the workplace is transforming how we work, offering unprecedented efficiency and productivity. However, new research highlights a critical issue: AI can also make us lonelier and less healthy. Key Takeaways: Increased Isolation: Employees working closely with AI report feeling more isolated, leading to loneliness, increased alcohol consumption, and sleep issues. This has the potential to have significant impact on future health and wellbeing. Human Connection: Despite AI's efficiency, the need for social connection at work is important. Feeling isolated undermines engagement, innovation, and overall productivity. Research highlighted how this could effect organisation advocacy Organisational Well-being: Businesses must balance AI integration with a strong commitment to employee well-being, promoting social interactions and supportive environments. The organisation may to reconsider work from home or hybrid working arrangements Redesign Workflows: Integrate AI in a collaborative person centric way , ensuring employees can exercise autonomy, purpose, and development in their roles AI as a Tool: Introduce AI as a means to enhance experience at work, not just a way to automate tasks. Productivity and efficiency improvements may be observed but leaders should ensure the impact on employees is understood . Understanding how AI impacts workplace dynamics is crucial for creating a confident , connected, and productive organisational culture. This research highlights how organisations and leaders require emotional intelligence and must consider how AI implementation can affect the wellbeing of employees. 🌟 #AI #Workplace #EmployeeWellbeing #Leadership