Marvin OnumonuEmployers should focus on people, not just technology, when bringing artificial intelligence (AI) into the workplace, according to the latest roundtable by the Policy Liaison Group (PLG) on Workplace Wellbeing in Parliament.
Sonia Kumar MP attended the meeting with employers and experts from tech and wellbeing, who said that wellbeing, trust and culture were essential for AI to actually improve productivity, rather than causing anxiety or resistance.
The group discussed whether AI was more of an opportunity or a risk at work.
Research found that organisations with strong, people-centred cultures were much more likely to see AI work well.
Where trust was low or training was lacking, AI usually led to more stress and pushback, not better results.
Those at the meeting said that it was people, not just systems, who actually make the difference.
Attendees warned that too much or the wrong kind of regulation could hold back innovation.
They said that good corporate governance was needed to help employers balance profit and people, and tackle the UK’s ongoing productivity problem.
Employers were told to create cultures where staff could safely try new tools, learn by doing and make work run more smoothly.
The discussion ended with the message that wellbeing could not be treated as an add-on.
Most agreed that AI was more about helping workers than replacing them right now, but some jobs would change or disappear over time.
Employers and policymakers were told to plan for reskilling and invest in leadership to support staff as roles changed.
The group said that putting wellbeing, trust and psychological safety first was key to making sure AI improved job quality and performance, instead of causing burnout.
Gethin Nadin, chair of the PLG on Workplace Wellbeing, said: “The debate about AI too often swings between hype and fear.
“What’s missing is a focus on how technology actually interacts with human wellbeing at work.
“The evidence is increasingly clear that wellbeing is not an add-on to AI adoption, it is a precondition for success.”
Nadin added: “High-performing organisations with strong, people-centred cultures are far more likely to implement AI effectively, where its integration relies on trust, engagement and support.”
Simon Greenman, partner and head of AI at Best Practice AI, said: “This is probably the most complex software ever introduced into the workplace, and there is no manual for it.
“Expecting people to master AI with minimal training leaves employees feeling overwhelmed, nervous and disengaged.
“In the near term, this is much more about augmentation than automation, but success depends on whether organisations create the trust, support and psychological safety people need to engage with it confidently.”
Francesca Tabor, AI Growth Hub, said: “Employers need to train their staff to use AI and give them confidence to engage with it.
“That means being transparent about how decisions are made and keeping humans firmly in the loop.
“If AI tools are introduced to support staff, they should not be used to monitor mental health or performance in ways that undermine trust.”
Tabor added: “When people disengage and ‘take their brain out of the loop’, both wellbeing and outcomes suffer.”
