Priority areas

Successful managers seek to ensure productivity, motivate employees and create a positive atmosphere. (AI) AI refers to systems that display intelligent behaviour by analysing their environment and taking actions – with some degree of autonomy – to achieve specific goals. AI-based systems can be purely software-based, acting in the virtual world (e.g. voice assistants, image analysis software, search engines, speech and face recognition systems) or AI can be embedded in hardware devices (e.g. advanced robots, autonomous cars, drones or Internet of things applications). ( AI refers to systems that display intelligent behaviour by analysing their environment and taking actions – with some degree of autonomy – to achieve specific goals. AI-based systems can be purely software-based, acting in the virtual world (e.g. voice assistants, image analysis software, search engines, speech and face recognition systems) or AI can be embedded in hardware devices (e.g. advanced robots, autonomous cars, drones or Internet of things applications). ) and An explicitly defined set of instructions describing how a computer or a human could perform an action, task or procedure or solve a problem. -based systems can help managers by automating management tasks in the workplace. This can optimise work organisation for both employers and workers. For example, algorithms can predict customers’ future demand so that shifts can be scheduled to meet staff requirements and avoid the negative effects of being short-staffed. A worker management system where simple (i.e. without ‘intelligence’) algorithms and digital technologies (e.g. worker-monitoring devices, computers or face recognition software) are used to manage workers in an automated or semi-automated manner. It provides the means to automate a large number of worker management tasks (e.g. schedule-making, shift- making and worker monitoring through wearable devices). AI-based worker management involves the intelligence simulation necessary to deal with uncertainty (e.g. providing different outputs based on changes in the environment), whereas algorithmic management is deterministic in nature (i.e. it always provides the same output, given the same input). can also be used to assign tasks to workers based on their capabilities and skills.

However, there are a number of psychosocial risks to consider. The most common complaint is that workers feel reduced autonomy because their decision-making capacity is limited. They feel they are no longer in control of their work. Additionally, they feel pressured to work faster, causing work-related stress, health issues and accidents.

To ensure that AI-based worker management systems have a positive impact, it is important to work alongside workers to build Trust can be defined as the attitude that an agent [automation technology, i.e. advanced robotics] will help achieve an individual’s goal in a situation characterised by uncertainty and vulnerability. . This starts by consulting workers and allowing them to participate in the design and implementation of algorithmic management systems. Transparency is key.

Learn how to make the most of AI-based worker management systems from our campaign resources.