Employees Set Boundaries: Reluctant to Accept AI Agents as Managers, Report Reveals
Employees worldwide are establishing clear boundaries regarding the role of AI agents in the workplace, according to a recent global report by Workday.
The study found that 82% of organisations are rapidly deploying AI agents, driven by expectations that these tools will reduce workloads (88%) and contribute to financial success (71%). While 75% of employees are comfortable working alongside AI agents, only 30% are willing to be managed by them. Moreover, just 45% believe AI agents will become true members of the workforce.
"Employees are already defining clear boundaries about the role of agents. They're happy to use them as a tool but don't want them acting as managers or decision-makers," the report stated.
Trust in AI Agents
Trust in AI varies depending on the task. Employees tend to trust AI agents more with decisions related to IT infrastructure and technology provisioning. The report highlights high expectations for AI in workforce management, particularly in HR functions such as forecasting, planning, and policy development.
However, areas already highly automated—like payroll management and compensation administration—are not expected to benefit significantly from AI agents. This suggests that employees perceive less impact from AI where automation is already established.
Respondents also expressed skepticism about AI's potential to improve recruitment and internal mobility significantly. The report suggests this caution stems from the personal judgment required in HR tasks such as recruiting, internal movement, compensation strategy, and complex payroll.
Boosting Trust in AI Agents
To increase trust, the report recommends training employees to understand when and how to use AI effectively. It found a clear correlation between exposure to AI agents and increased trust:
"The percentage of people who trust their organisation to use agents responsibly rises significantly with increased adoption maturity."
Importantly, AI implementation should not undermine employee experience. Strategic deployment with people at the center of decision-making is essential.
Kathy Pham, Vice President of AI at Workday, emphasized:
"Building trust means being intentional in how AI is used and keeping people at the center of every decision."
Source: Originally published at HRD Canada on August 13, 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Employee-AI Interaction
Q: What percentage of employees are comfortable working with AI agents?
A: 75% of employees are comfortable working alongside AI agents.
Q: What percentage of employees are willing to be managed by AI agents?
A: Only 30% of employees are willing to be managed by AI agents.
Q: Do employees believe AI agents will become true members of the workforce?
A: Just 45% of employees believe AI agents will become true members of the workforce.
AI Deployment and Expectations
Q: What is driving the rapid deployment of AI agents in organizations?
A: Organizations are rapidly deploying AI agents primarily due to the expectation that these tools will reduce workloads (88%) and contribute to financial success (71%).
Q: In which HR functions do employees expect AI agents to have a significant impact?
A: Employees have high expectations for AI in workforce management, particularly in HR functions such as forecasting, planning, and policy development.
Q: In which areas do employees NOT expect significant benefits from AI agents?
A: Employees do not expect significant benefits from AI agents in areas that are already highly automated, such as payroll management and compensation administration. They also expressed skepticism about AI's potential to significantly improve recruitment and internal mobility.
Building Trust in AI
Q: How can organizations boost employee trust in AI agents?
A: Organizations can boost employee trust by training employees to understand when and how to use AI effectively. Increased adoption maturity also correlates with higher trust.
Q: What is crucial for the strategic deployment of AI?
A: Strategic deployment of AI must keep people at the center of decision-making and should not undermine the employee experience.
Crypto Market AI's Take
The findings of this report resonate with the broader discussion around the integration of AI into professional environments. While the efficiency gains and workload reduction offered by AI agents are widely recognized, as evidenced by their rapid deployment, the human element remains paramount. Employees are discerning the utility of AI as a tool to augment their capabilities, rather than as a replacement for human judgment and leadership. This sentiment highlights the importance of a human-centric approach to AI implementation, focusing on collaboration and augmentation rather than pure automation. For businesses looking to navigate this evolving landscape, understanding these employee perceptions is key to successful AI adoption. Our platform explores the impact of AI on various sectors, including finance, and how it can be leveraged to enhance human potential. You can learn more about how we are integrating AI into our trading solutions here:
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