Does AI help or harm employee wellbeing & performance?
- May 13
- 1 min read
In this developmental research session presented at the Western Academy of Management Conference, we present a research study proposal to better understand how AI can have positive as well as negative impacts on employees.
Abstract: Management research is showing that the adoption of generative AI in organizations is beginning to bring value to business. However, the impact of generative AI (such as ChatGPT) adoption on the more micro-side, i.e., employee workplace outcomes and wellbeing, remains under-explored. Some studies have demonstrated paradoxical effects, namely that the use of AI at work can have positive and negative impacts on workers, depending on various factors. We add to this literature by drawing on Cognitive Appraisal Theory and investigating why and how generative AI use influences employees workplace outcomes and well-being. We explain that reactions to the frequency of AI use at work are impacted on a daily basis by employees’ appraisals, and these changes can lead to positive (e.g., increased performance, more outside of work detachment) as well as negative (e.g., increased incivility, greater insomnia) outcomes. The perception of top management support for AI adoption moderates these impacts such that negative impacts are buffered and positive effects are heightened for employees with more top management support for AI adoption. We propose an experience sampling study to test our hypotheses and foresee practical and theoretical implications of our work.
Citation: Trimboli, H. & Lassu, R.A., (2025) Does AI help or harm? Why and how AI use influences workplace outcomes and employee well-being. Western Academy of Management Annual Meeting. 19-22 March, 2025. Kelowna, B.C.
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