Burnout at work is already happening, but here's how to prevent it.

• There is a risk of employee burnout if companies overemphasize the use of artificial intelligence and generative AI.
• Those who experience high levels of stress due to the pressure to learn and adapt to AI technology are at a higher risk of burnout.
• Despite some workers' concerns about AI, recent company declarations about its potential to enhance efficiency and output have only intensified these fears.

While companies are excitedly promoting and implementing artificial intelligence and generative AI, there is a risk of employee burnout from rushing into AI technology, and businesses must take precautions to prevent this.

Bob Huber, chief security officer at Tenable, stated that the lack of additional resources to evaluate AI's potential benefits is a concern. He explained that the resources must be obtained from other sources, such as reprioritizing people's time or deferring other projects.

According to Huber, employees will be overloaded with work if they are double- or triple-tasked, which will strain already limited resources. Although some AI applications can be done with minimal effort, most require significant resources to develop, design, and assess, he stated.

Despite some workers' fears about AI, recent proclamations by companies about its ability to improve efficiency and output have only intensified these concerns, according to Heather O'Neill, a career expert at Resume Now.

"O'Neill stated that workers naturally worry about their workload and productivity expectations increasing as they hear about AI-related advancements. However, concerns about keeping up with the new work landscape and the demands it brings are also a significant source of stress and burnout."

O'Neill stated that training can be daunting and draining, and workers may feel overwhelmed by the need to acquire new skills and adapt to AI technology. This can exacerbate existing stress and burnout. Additionally, some workers are concerned about how AI will affect their work-life balance, she added.

In March 2024, Resume Now conducted a survey of 1,150 U.S. workers and found that 63% of respondents expressed fears about AI use and 61% are concerned it will increase burnout. Nearly 90% of young workers fear AI-related burnout and about half of the women surveyed think AI will negatively impact work-life balance. Two-thirds of the respondents are afraid of losing their jobs due to AI.

Steps to prevent job burnout

To prevent worker burnout, companies can take a cautious approach when implementing AI initiatives.

"Huber advised gradual introduction of AI initiatives and against aiming for moonshots that require significant resources to evaluate and deploy, as this puts intense pressure on teams."

To ensure the success of the AI initiative and the well-being of employees, O'Neill emphasized the importance of gradually preparing workers for AI use in the workplace. She advised companies to communicate clearly about the training process and how performance expectations would change to alleviate employee concerns.

Employees should be encouraged to share their thoughts on how AI can improve their work processes and alleviate any concerns they may have about using technology.

To ensure successful integration of AI, companies must provide specific details on how it will be implemented and a timeline for adoption. This information should be communicated clearly and specifically to each employee, detailing how it will impact their individual roles and daily work.

Prioritizing work for people is crucial for effective leadership, Huber emphasized.

To help workers focus on higher-level projects, companies should remind them that AI is primarily designed to assist with repetitive and mundane tasks. O'Neill stated that while some jobs may be replaced by AI, most will not. This reassurance can help workers embrace the technology.

To ensure that employees can effectively use AI in their roles, businesses should provide training and establish a dedicated AI support team.