The Institute of Directors found that 63% of business leaders said they are now less likely to hire new staff, while 57% said they are more likely to invest in automation.
Kevin Fitzgerald said: “HeroForce is built to help restore confidence and backed by Employment Hero's team of experts in payroll and employment law."
The La Fosse survey found executives responsible for governance were most likely to use AI heavily, override expertise and operate with weak oversight.
Roy Magara, solicitor advocate and founder of Magara Law, said: “Many organisations are still operating with outdated assumptions about flexibility and probation."
Three in 10 (28%) leaders said they felt isolated at times during the process, and a similar number reported higher stress as things got busier.
According to Photoroom data, AI is replacing many repeatable, labour-intensive jobs, with founders turning to software instead of extra staff.
Most HR professionals (87%) said staff expect clear visibility into pay structures, with transparency now seen as a sign of fairness and trust.
Three new tools have been launched to help fill the gap and unlock up to £400bn of growth by 2030.
The Capital on Tap survey found 38% said flexible working hours was another reason they would launch a business.
49% said they would be less likely to hire new staff, while 36% said they were more likely to outsource roles or operations to other countries.
Thomas-Symonds said: “Britain is back on the world stage with a Government in the service of working people.”
The research found only 16% of respondents said the impact would be “considerable”.