The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has launched a taskforce to study the role that artificial intelligence could have in managing employees, but a new TUC report also covers the concerns that workers have on the use of AI in the workforce.
The ‘Technology managing people: the worker experience’ report revealed that the pandemic has accelerated technology usage, with the AI recruitment market anticipated to be worth $400 million by 2027.
According to the findings, 60% of respondents said that using technology to make decisions about employees could lead to biased treatment if not handled correctly. Additionally, 56% said that technology could hinder the trust between employers and employees.
AI technology is currently being used to analyze facial expression, tone of voice and accents to determine whether a candidate is suitable for a role. The TUC warns that this could lead to unfair treatment and isolation if not utilized appropriately.
The new taskforce hopes to develop new ways to protect workers from disciplinary performance management from AI.
This will include more worker consultation on the implementation of new technologies, empowering workers with more technical knowledge and allowing collective bargaining on technology use in the workplace.
“Worker surveillance tech has taken off during this pandemic as employers have grappled with increased remote working,” said Frances O’Grady, general secretary at TUC. “Big companies are investing in intrusive AI to keep tabs on their workers, set more demanding targets – and to automate decisions about who to let go. And it’s leading to increased loneliness and monotony.”
