Artificial intelligence is changing how we work. While AI has benefits for businesses, workers are worried about job security and the future. One area of concern is AI monitoring, a tool that is significantly impacting the mental health of employees.
A 2023 survey from the American Psychological Association found that workers are more worried about being watched by AI at work. About half said they know their employer monitors them. This monitoring was relatively steady across multiple industries, including manual labor (49%), office work (49%), and client, patient, or customer services (55%). Workers who are monitored are more likely to report that their work environment has a negative impact on their mental health and that their employer believes that their workplace is more mentally healthy than it really is.
The growing presence of AI technology in the workplace has many effects on workers' mental health, and AI monitoring presents unique challenges for employers in multiple industries. Many factors are to consider, including privacy, self-expression, and basic human dignity.
While employers may feel that monitoring employees is beneficial, considering the mental health of their employees and finding a balance may be better for the bottom line.
There are many ways employers use AI to monitor workers. Some tools, like cameras, are easy to see, but others are not. Data collection can occur through everything from employee badges to keystroke logging to productivity tracking.
AI monitoring can also have different goals. While cameras are meant for surveillance, some technologies aim to gamify productivity. These tools collect a variety of data points and then compare them against a list of subjective rules or quantifiable metrics to determine which workers are the most efficient or productive. Scores from these systems can be used to determine who gets a raise, who gets a promotion, and who faces disciplinary action.
As a result of these technologies, many workers think their employers are spying on them. According to the 2023 Work in America Survey, among those who know their employer uses this technology, "47% reported being worried about spying (vs. 22% of those not monitored) and 46% reported feeling uncomfortable (vs. 23% of those not monitored)." Of those who believe they are being monitored, more than two out of five reported that it "causes them to experience negative feelings."
The survey also found a link between AI monitoring and stress. Over half (56%) of those being monitored said they often felt tense or stressed at work. This compares to about 40% of those not being monitored.
When compared to workers not being monitored, those who are were more likely to express feelings that may be associated with burnout, including being angry or irritable toward customers or co-workers (23% vs. 14% of those not monitored), wanting to keep to themselves when at work (30% vs. 19%), being unmotivated to do their best (29% vs. 22%), being emotionally exhausted (30% vs 19%), and feeling like they are being ineffective at work (20% vs 15%).
The survey found that there are some perceived benefits of AI monitoring, but many of these come from management. For example, 79% of upper management reported that AI monitoring makes them more productive compared to 54% of middle management. Upper management was also more likely to say that monitoring improves their workplace experience and protects their safety while at work.
The APA's 2023 Work in America Survey also found positive sentiments from some employees. For example, one teacher reported that her emotional and psychological well-being benefited from her employer monitoring her classes for bad events, and another worker reported that she felt some tracking from her employer was a reasonable trade-off for being able to work from home.
For the most part, though, employees had a less optimistic view. Whether they know they are being monitored or not, just over a third of all survey respondents said they worry about their employer spying on them during working hours and are uncomfortable with how their employers use technology to track them at work. When employers knew that they were being monitored, these percentages were even higher, with 47% being worried about spying and 46% feeling uncomfortable, compared to 22% and 23% of non-monitored workers, respectively.
The 2023 survey suggests that AI monitoring impacts workplace relationships. Some workers brought up privacy and monitoring issues, even when it wasn’t asked. When asked what their employers should be doing to foster and protect their well-being, some workers responded that they should not be spying on them, that they do not need monitoring, and that employers should respect their privacy. When workers feel they are not trusted or cared for by their employers, they will likely have less commitment to the organization.
This lack of trust may contribute to some workers' intent to find a new job. The survey reported that among all workers, "33% reported that they intend to look for a new job at a different company or organization within the next 12 months. However, among those who are monitored, 42% reported their intent to look for a new job, compared with 23% of those who are not monitored."
Employee retention is important for employers. Among all workers surveyed, 33% reported that they intended to look for a new job within the next year, but this number was higher among workers concerned about AI. Of those, 46% intended to look for a new job. For those not worried about AI, it was only 25%.
In an interview about the survey with the APA, Tara Behrend, PhD, professor of human resources and labor relations at Michigan State University, stated the following:
Monitoring, when done well, can provide valuable information for training and feedback. For example, video footage of top sales performers can be used to train new salespeople. For workers who feel their efforts are not noticed or who feel uncomfortable with self-promotion, the data from monitoring could help them demonstrate their impact in a positive way. But all of that depends on a culture of respect and trust. If data from monitoring is used to punish people or justify treating them like machines, it will not have any benefit.
The nature of work and the role of AI is changing rapidly, and many employers may not fully understand the challenges of integrating these tools into the workplace while respecting the privacy and supporting the mental health of their workers. In an interview about the APA survey, Leslie Hammer, PhD, emerita professor of psychology at Portland State University and co-director of the Oregon Healthy Workforce Center at the Oregon Health and Science University, offers this advice:
It's very important that workplaces communicate information regarding any changes related to AI clearly and honestly. Fear of the unknown and loss of a sense of control are directly related to psychological distress, occupational stress, and strain, as well as negative physical health outcomes. Providing information about the use of AI and allowing employee input into such changes will significantly alleviate these outcomes.
AI monitoring has many detrimental effects on employee mental health. According to the 2023 Work in America Survey, "workers who are monitored while working more often reported feeling that they do not matter at their workplace (to their coworkers [32% vs. 17% of those not monitored] or to their employer [36% vs. 22%]), that they are not valued (26% vs. 17%), that they are micromanaged (51% vs. 33%), and that new forms of technology are likely to take over their job (48% vs. 38%)."
AI monitoring may have some benefits, but employers should consider how it affects their employees’ mental health. The survey results show that AI monitoring can make workers feel like their employers don’t value them.
There are questions as to whether AI monitoring has the effects employers seek. As Professor Behrend said in an interview with the APA about using these tools, "It's a mistake because the tools aren't measuring what's really important—all the ways a worker is contributing to the organization and generating value... Our data has clearly shown that these productivity monitoring tools do not lead to better performance. They are counterproductive for the organizations that use them."
With a dedicated team of over 75, including writers, editors, and medical experts, we’re committed to bringing you the most comprehensive, up-to-date health information you can rely on.
This site offers information designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on any information on this site as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or as a substitute for, professional counseling care, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional.