ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AT WORK:
A NEW HEALTH & SAFETY CHALLENGE
AI SYSTEMS CAN BE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT HEALTH AND SAFETY COMPLIANCE, BUT WITHOUT COMMERCIAL PRESSURE TO PRIORITISE WORKER WELLBEING, THAT POTENTIAL IS OFTEN MISSED.
WORK INTENSIFICATION
Although
AI can automate dull or repetitive tasks,
it could also result in a demand for
peak performance, leading to relentless
pressure and burnout.
MONITORING AND INTRUSIVE SURVEILLANCE
Constant tracking
and automated assessment can harm
both mental and physical well-being, as
workers experience the extreme pressure
of constant micromanagement .
A WORKPLACE STRESS EPIDEMIC
Excessive reliance on technology,
including devices with GPS trackers and
crude call handling time stats, can
DISCIPLINARY ACTION FROM FLAWED DATA
Oversimplified data can trigger
unfair disciplinary procedures, causing
more stress and anxiety.
DESKILLING AND UNDERMINING OF PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY
When
workers are forced to blindly ‘please
the system’ by following AI-generated
prompts, this erodes workers’ ability to
exercise their initiative or use tried and
tested approaches.
DISPROPORTIONATE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OLDER WORKERS AND THOSE WITH DISABILITIES
AI-driven
targets often assume a “one size fi ts
all” approach, ignoring the diff erent
challenges workers may face.
IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY – WITH CONSULTATION AND A STRONG UNION VOICE, WE CAN SHAPE A FUTURE TECHNOLOGY THAT SUPPORTS WORKERS.
LET’S MAKE AI WORK FOR WORKERS!
THERE ARE MANY POTENTIAL KEY PRINCIPLES THAT THE CWU AND OTHER TRADE UNIONS CAN ADOPT, SUCH AS:
PROMOTE FULL ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT AND EFFECTIVE CONSULTATION WITH TU’S DURING THE ADOPTION OF AI SYSTEMS INTO THE WORKPLACE.
PROMOTE THE BENEFITS OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ON THE DESIGN, DEPLOYMENT AND MONITORING OF AI AND THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE WORKPLACE.
UNDERTAKE OUR OWN RISK ASSESSMENTS AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE STRESS EVALUATION IMPACT OF AI.
