Survey: 3 in 10 Workers Say AI Increased Their Workload
Contrary to expectations of increased efficiency, 31% of employees report that artificial intelligence has actually increased their workload, according to a new survey from ResumeTemplates.com. The findings suggest that as employers adopt AI tools, they are also raising productivity expectations, leading to higher performance pressure and fatigue for many workers.
- A significant disconnect exists between executive expectations and employee reality; while 96% of C-suite leaders anticipate AI will boost productivity, one study found 77% of employees reported that AI actually decreased their productivity and increased their workload. - The increased workload is partially due to a "rework tax," where nearly 40% of the time employees save by using AI is subsequently lost to correcting errors, rewriting content, and verifying the accuracy of the AI-generated output. - Research from Harvard Business Review identified three ways AI intensifies work: through "task expansion" (working faster and longer), the blurring of boundaries between work and personal life, and increased multitasking, all of which can lead to cognitive fatigue and burnout. - The pressure to perform is rising, with nearly six out of ten workers stating that the implementation of AI has increased their employer's expectations for them to deliver higher-quality results more quickly. - This problem may be worsened by a significant training gap; a Q3 2025 study found that only 13% of American workers reported that their company had provided any training on AI tools. - A lack of formal guidance and training may contribute to "shadow AI" use, with 29% of employees admitting to using AI for their work without informing their managers. - As of the end of 20
