How can employers use AI to promote employee wellbeing?

How can employers use AI to promote employee wellbeing?

With advancements in technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) being made in the past couple of years, employers have found innovative ways to harness this new technology to support and promote the wellbeing of their employees.

This article discusses how AI may be used as a tool to promote employee wellbeing and whether there are any drawbacks to using this technology.

Employee engagement

Employee wellbeing programmes are an effective way for an employer to demonstrate their commitment to enhancing employee morale. However, a common issue with these programmes is low employee engagement. An article published in the Harward Business Review in 2021, found that the average participation rate for employee wellbeing programmes was as low as 23-32%.

AI introduces a variety of new methods which may assist in improving employee engagement, including gamification and incentives. Gamification is where elements of games are used in non-game contexts to engage and motivate people. As an example, this may include challenges, competitions and rewards for employees as a result of engaging with employee wellbeing programmes. By harnessing AI-powered gamification, employers may be able to create a dynamic environment that could encourage greater participation and enthusiasm among their workforce.

Mental health support

Mental health is pivotal to overall employee wellbeing, and poor mental health significantly affects employees’ ability to successfully carry out their duties. However, not all employees feel comfortable discussing their mental health concerns with someone from their workplace.

This is where Chatbots and AI-powered applications may be useful. These resources provide employees with a safe space to discuss mental health concerns and access resources for stress management. A key feature of these resources is their ability detect changes in communication patterns, flagging potential issues for proactive intervention by a human. Significantly, in a study carried out by Oracle and Workplace Intelligence in 2021, 75% of employees said that AI had aided their mental health at work.

A key issue when it comes to employee wellbeing, is that access to wellbeing resources may be limited to certain time restraints. However, virtual assistants and chatbots are accessible 24/7 to provide a confidential platform where employees can discuss their mental health or any other wellbeing concerns.

Personalised solutions

One of the significant advantages of implementing AI to improve employee wellbeing is its ability to provide personalised solutions. Employers may be able to utilise AI algorithms to examine extensive sets of employee data, encompassing health metrics, work related details and individual preferences. This capability may empower employers to present customised wellness programmes and assistance tailored specifically to their employees.

Additionally, from an employee’s perspective, AI can offer them personalised coping strategies and appropriate resources if they are struggling with their mental health. This is carried out through natural language processing and sentiment analysis, which enables AI to detect changes in an employee’s communication patterns.

Workload management and work-life balance

Some employees may lack the ability to manage and prioritise when they are faced with a heavy workload, which may cause significant stress and overall deterioration of their wellbeing. AI algorithms have the ability to analyse work patterns, deadlines, and individual capacities to assist workload management. By tracking productivity levels and stress indicators, AI suggests optimal work schedules, task prioritisation and breaks to prevent burnout.

Significantly, in the same study carried out by Oracle and Workplace Intelligence in 2021 the top benefits of AI cited were access to useful information which assisted employees in prioritising tasks and decreasing their workload.

Not only can AI assist with an employee’s workload, but it can also help them to establish clear boundaries between work and their personal life. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is often difficult to achieve but is fundamental for employee wellbeing. AI-powered scheduling tools can help to create balance and flexible work schedules, accommodating personal commitments and preferences. These systems can consider factors such as commute times, family obligations and preferred working hours to create schedules that enable employees to maintain a harmonious balance between their professional and personal lives.

Health monitoring

In order to improve overall employee wellbeing, wearable devices can be a useful tool. Wearable devices and health-tracking applications powered by AI provide real-time monitoring of physical health. These devices track metrics such as heart rate variability, sleep patterns and activity levels, offering insights that help individuals make informed decisions about their health. Employers can encourage the use of such technology, promoting a culture of health-consciousness and providing resources or incentives.

Data privacy concerns

While the benefits of AI in employee wellbeing are evident, it is crucial to address data privacy concerns that may arise. Employers must strike a delicate balance between leveraging AI-driven initiatives and respecting personal information to ensure a secure and trusting work environment.

One way to ensure that employees are aware of the ways their data is processed and stored is by providing them with an up to date GDPR Privacy Notice, and having relevant data protection policies in place that are easily accessible.

Conclusion

There are many ways that employers can use AI to promote employee wellbeing and as AI continues to evolve, its role in promoting employee wellbeing will undoubtedly become even more integral in shaping the future of the workplace. However, it may cause some initial concerns for employees in regards to their privacy and the processing of their personal data.

If you have any questions about employee wellbeing, our Peace of Mind Team can provide specific advice and our Document Audit Team can help draft relevant policies. Contact our employment law team by emailing employment@warnergoodman.co.uk or by calling 023 8071 7717.