Employees favour AI collaboration but resist AI in management roles

New research released by Workday indicates that a majority of employees are willing to collaborate with artificial intelligence (AI) agents in the workplace but are hesitant to accept AI as their manager.

The global report, titled AI Agents Are Here – But Don't Call Them Boss, found that 75% of workers feel comfortable teaming up with AI agents. However, just 30% are comfortable with the idea of being managed by AI. This distinction highlights a central challenge for organisations seeking to integrate AI into their operations.

Growth in adoption

The research reveals robust enthusiasm for the adoption of AI agents, with 82% of organisations expanding their use of these technologies. Nevertheless, employees show a clear preference for maintaining defined boundaries between human and AI roles in the workplace, requiring organisations to approach implementation thoughtfully.

"We're entering a new era of work where AI can be an incredible partner, and a complement to human judgement, leadership, and empathy," said Kathy Pham, Vice President, AI, Workday. "Building trust means being intentional in how AI is used and keeping people at the centre of every decision."

Views from Australia

Australian results mirror global trends, with widespread AI adoption and a strong preference for human oversight, especially in decision-making roles. Jo-Anne Ruhl, Vice President and Managing Director, Workday Australia and New Zealand, commented, "The Australian findings are a clear reflection of the broader global trends, where AI is seen as a powerful tool to complement human expertise, not replace it. The research shows that while 75% of Australians are comfortable working alongside AI, particularly in areas such as finance and HR, there is a strong preference for human oversight, especially when it comes to critical decision-making."

Ruhl added, "The research highlights AI's value in automating routine tasks and enhancing productivity, with 93% of Australians agreeing that AI will help them innovate and increase efficiency. However, as AI adoption scales, businesses must focus on transparency, ethical frameworks, and ensure that AI is used to complement, not replace human judgement."

Key findings from the research

Employees largely see AI agents as collaborators rather than leaders. Three-quarters of those surveyed are comfortable with AI agents working alongside them and suggesting new skills, yet only 30% would accept management by AI. Just 24% are at ease with AI operating in the background without their knowledge, underscoring the importance of transparency.

Trust in AI agents increases with direct exposure and use. While only 36% of those currently exploring AI agents trust how their organisation uses them, this figure rises sharply to 95% among those with more extensive experience.

Almost 90% of employees believe AI agents will enhance productivity, though a notable proportion express concerns about increased workplace pressure (48%), diminished critical thinking (48%), and reduced human interaction (36%).

The degree of trust in AI varies by task. Employees are more comfortable relying on AI for IT support and skills development than for hiring, finance, or legal work, with these areas still seen as requiring significant human oversight.

Finance sector insights

In the finance industry, 76% of workers believe AI agents will help address a talent shortage, while only 12% fear job loss due to AI. Leading use cases for AI agents in finance include forecasting and budgeting (32%), financial reporting (32%), and fraud detection (30%).

The adoption of AI agents in finance and HR functions is accelerating in Australia. The report highlights that 80% of organisations are either rolling out or in early production stages, expecting substantial scaling in the next three years. Specifically, the use of AI agents in financial reporting is projected to move from 4% looking to scale currently, to 54% within three years, while pilots or exploratory phases are expected to end. Awareness of AI concepts is high, with 90% of respondents indicating strong familiarity with 'co-pilots' and 87% with 'generative AI.'

Australian organisations are primarily focusing on pre-built or open-source AI solutions, rather than developing custom versions, reflecting a pragmatic approach to integration.

Security, privacy and ethics

The principal barriers to AI agent adoption remain concerns around security, privacy, and ethical issues. Forty-five percent of respondents cite security and privacy as the top risks, while 39% mention ethical risks such as bias and misuse. Half of those surveyed emphasise ethics and governance - including data privacy and regulatory challenges - as their main concerns.

In finance, 50% highlight data security and privacy as major challenges, with compliance issues also notable. Concerns about potential misuse, such as surveillance or manipulation, remain high, with 41% expressing significant worry. Most organisations have implemented policies focused on security frameworks, monitoring, and ethical guidelines, but fewer have addressed global regulatory requirements or explainability, indicating ongoing gaps in governance.

Optimism and trust

Despite these concerns, optimism about AI's impact is strong. Nearly all respondents (93%) anticipate that AI agents will reduce workloads and boost productivity. Eighty-five percent expect AI agents will ease shortages of finance professionals by automating routine tasks and improving analytics. Most respondents also foresee positive effects on employee development, engagement, satisfaction, and work-life balance.

Trust and comfort with AI agents are highly context-dependent. Respondents generally prefer human oversight in compliance, risk management, and financial reporting, while AI is seen as more suitable for supporting roles, such as skills development. Only 38% trust AI to make decisions on their behalf, and 45% consider AI agents important tools rather than actual workforce members.

The research points to a clear path for organisations: focus on transparency, build robust ethical frameworks, and use AI to complement human judgement and decision-making within the workplace.