AI literacy, AI impacting wage growth, and AI minimizing workplace relationships
Here are 5 things to know about work this week.
Hello, and welcome to WorkLife’s 5 Things newsletter. In this weekly newsletter, we will spotlight five things to know about the latest issues affecting modern workplaces.?
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1. ‘AI literacy is now a power skill’
Here’s a spoiler: You don’t need to be tech-savvy to improve your AI literacy.?
“AI literacy is now a power skill — similar to critical thinking, problem solving or even data literacy,” said Jim Hemgen , talent development director at Booz Allen, the top AI provider for the federal government that employs over 33,000 people. “It [AI] needs to be embraced by the employees, even if their leadership is not there yet.”
So how does someone hone in on that skill? Grasping the basics doesn’t take weeks to learn, nor days, but hours. We put together a starter kit for those who are grappling with AI anxiety. That includes understanding what AI actually is, knowing what to share with AI, getting curious about what AI tools are out there, learning how to use your generative AI voice, and identifying your AI copilot’s role.
2. Why time off and leave policies matter for talent retention
More than 80% of U.S. employers plan to change their leave policies for staff over the next two years, according to a survey from WTW a workforce intelligence and benefits company, including responses from over 500 employers. Specifically, they’re looking to alter their policies around caregiver leave, bereavement leave and parental leave.
It’s not uncommon for employers to tweak these programs, but the extent to which they plan to is what’s unusual, said Alex Henry , group benefits leader at WTW. Over half of respondents said they planned to make moderate or extensive changes, like adding entirely new kinds of leave or boosting the number of days allowed off.
3. Is AI going to impact wage growth?
Picture this: your company is leveraging AI tools so that your repetitive, mundane tasks that used to take 10 to 20 hours a week can be automated and be done in no time. That means you have more time to complete complex, thought-provoking assignments.?
It sounds like a win for the employee who doesn’t need to get swamped with time-consuming, repetitive administrative tasks anymore. In some ways, it is – this individual can contribute in new ways, which can ultimately accelerate their career. But, will this person get paid more for doing harder work??
Experts say it’s unlikely – certainly not in the immediate future – unless that individual can make a clear case for having a pay raise. Here are their tips on how AI might impact wages and how to get ahead of it where you can.
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4. People are starting to worry about how AI will impact work relationships
Amrita Bhasin , co-founder of fintech startup Sotira, is facing an increasingly common conundrum at work: what she should or shouldn’t ask colleagues when ChatGPT is available. Instead of turning to someone next to her in the office to ask for a different way to phrase something, for example, it’s easier just to ask an AI bot. But that habit is potentially having some undesirable knock-on effects.
“Everyone has AI-generated meeting notes,” said Bhasin. “You don’t need to ask anyone for notes if you miss a meeting because you can look them up. People don’t go to meetings when they can send their AI assistant instead of themselves. It’s ominous because they’re not there but their assistant is.”
This gradual erosion of the more human element of work – the ability to be empathetic and non-judgmental toward others' mistakes, laughing together, or learning from each other – may also compound an existing issue: the ongoing loneliness epidemic.?
5. Employers are scrambling to start reporting their carbon emissions
California is the only U.S. state to enact a first-of-its-kind mandatory climate emissions disclosure rule. It means that companies operating in the state need to report what emissions they rack up in the running of their operations. And if they fail to comply once the law is enforced in 2027, they face penalties of up to $500,000.
“The knee-jerk reaction is one of fear and anxiety because it’s a big, massive reporting challenge for a lot of organizations,” said Trevor Langdon , co-founder and CEO of Green Standards .
Experts tell us how employers need to start preparing now for the 2027 enforcement dates and how to do so, including building teams to tackle the challenge and fostering transparency between departments.
Elsewhere in Digiday Media
Check out some of Digiday Media’s other stories on the future of work over the past week:
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This newsletter was curated by Cloey Callahan, senior reporter at WorkLife. Let us know what you think, or what you hope to see more of, by dropping us a note at [email protected].
So thrilled to see you navigating the exciting world of #AI! ?? As Steve Jobs once said, "Technology is nothing. What's important is that you have a faith in people, that they're basically good and smart, and if you give them tools, they'll do wonderful things with them." Balancing AI literacy with fostering authentic workplace relationships is key to unlocking that potential. Keep up the great work! ???
???? Fascinating discussion on #AI in the workplace you're having! As Albert Einstein once said, "The measure of intelligence is the ability to change." It's crucial to adapt and be literate in AI to foster growth. ?? Speaking of growth, did you know Treegens is sponsoring a Guinness World Record for Tree Planting? It's a unique opportunity to blend green initiatives with innovative technology. Check it out: https://bit.ly/TreeGuinnessWorldRecord Let's grow together, both in trees and tech! ???