Is AI Trying to Steal Your Job? AI’s Impact on Staff Retention

A hot topic that's been buzzing around for a while now is the fear of AI stealing our jobs and affecting staff retention.

The impact of AI on staff retention will depend on various factors, including the nature of the job, the willingness of employees to adapt, the availability of upskilling opportunities, and the overall organizational approach to managing the integration of AI technology.

Some people are convinced that these fancy artificial intelligence systems will swoop in and snatch our livelihoods faster than you can say "automation." But let's take a step back, grab a cup of coffee, and have a chat about what's really going on here.

First things first, AI is indeed advancing at an incredible pace. We've seen remarkable developments in natural language processing, image recognition, and even robotics. It's pretty mind-blowing stuff! And yes, it's true that certain repetitive, mundane tasks can be automated more efficiently with AI. But does that mean we're all doomed to be unemployed and replaced by soulless machines? 

Absolutely not!

Sure, AI might take over certain jobs that require repetitive tasks or basic decision-making, but it opens up a whole new world of possibilities. 

Think about the field of healthcare, for example. AI can assist doctors in diagnosing diseases more accurately and quickly. It can help analyze medical records, and research papers, and even suggest treatment options. 

It's a partnership between humans and machines, enhancing our capabilities rather than replacing us. Besides, let's not forget that AI needs humans to function properly. We're the ones designing, developing, and maintaining these systems. 

AI may be intelligent, but it lacks the essential qualities that make us human—empathy, creativity, and critical thinking. Those are the things that truly set us apart. And as long as we continue to nurture and cultivate these skills, we'll always have a place in the workforce.

People Vs Machines

At Each Person, we value transparency, creativity, and teamwork. Therefore, we are proud to say that everything you see on ourwebsite, HR Dashboard, and Shop is all designed and created by our team of real people. When you email support or join a live chat, these are real people too! 

Our team works hard to provide a personalised experience for all our clients and users.

Our Customer Success Managers work directly with your company to build a trusted relationship and ensure everything on the platform runs smoothly for you. Partnerships scout for the best retailers, deals & discounts to offer your employees the creme de la creme of rewards, improving staff retention. The Design and UX teams are committed to providing engaging and innovative content, features, ‘thank you’ Ecards, and more so you can receive the recognition you deserve!

We strongly believe that the personal touch of one of our team members is no contest against AI. Perhaps AI can offer a faster service, but you wouldn’t get a sense of the true passion and dedication of our team.  Our people are our personality which shines through Bethan’s Hot Deals videos and our updates on Linkedin and Instagram. 

Building an environment where your employees are regularly recognised for their hard work, offered mental and physical health support, and given the opportunity to connect with their peers will undoubtedly improve staff retention.

We can, however, appreciate the effectiveness of using AI, with around 15% of businesses in the UK using at least one AI technology (1). 

In fact, I decided to give it a go myself and asked internet AI software, ChatGPT, to write the first half of this article! Did you notice? 

In this case, the AI has used certain language to try to convince you it has been written by a human. Unnerving and ironic, as it tells me unequivocally that AI will not be stealing my job any time soon while simultaneously stealing my job.

The majority of media sources present AI to be a ruthless technology that will eventually lead to the destruction of humanity (2). Regardless, we must acknowledge that it can be a benefit to many businesses.

 Is it really that important to maintain a human touch when AI can complete complicated tasks comprehensively and efficiently?

We at Each Person believe that personability is essential for a business, particularly because our company is designed for people by people. We may be biased, as our platform’s focus is to improve staff retention through employee recognition and exceptional benefits. Nevertheless, rewarding your employees for their hard work through employee vouchers, ‘thank you’ Ecards, and exclusive deals & discounts is something an AI certainly wouldn’t appreciate.

Get in touch with us at support@eachperson.com to speak to one of our team about what Each Person can do for your company and your employees. Learn about our new Employee Assistance Programme and the Diesel Card on our website, and check out what our team are up to on our Linkedin page! 

Sources:

1. Gov.uk - AI Activity in UK Businesses: Executive Summary https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ai-activity-in-uk-businesses/ai-activity-in-uk-businesses-executive-summary#:~:text=Around%2015%25%20of%20all%20businesses,which%20translates%20to%20432%2C000%20companies.
2. Beyond - Will AI Take My Job? https://www.beyond.agency/blog/will-ai-take-my-job

Written by Alex Crump, published June 2023