Artificial intelligence is becoming a fixture of the workplace—but most employees are flying under the radar. According to new research from EisnerAmper, only 22% of U.S. full-time desk workers who use AI say their employer actively monitors how they use it. That’s despite widespread adoption and overwhelmingly positive employee sentiment.
Employees Say AI Works. Employers Haven’t Caught Up.
The survey of more than 1,000 degree-holding desk workers paints a striking disconnect:
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80% of employees report a net positive experience with AI on the job.
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Just 36% say their employer has a formal AI policy.
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84% of managers know their teams are using AI, but only 41% of employees tell them when they do.
Adding to the friction: most employees (60%) rely on free AI platforms rather than employer-provided tools. And nearly one-third (28%) admit they’d keep using AI even if their company banned it.
“This points to a communication gap between employers and employees,” said Jen Clark, director of technology enablement at EisnerAmper. “Companies now have a valuable opportunity to not only establish an AI strategy but also communicate it effectively.”
Productivity, With a Side of Skepticism
Despite frequent errors—68% of users report catching mistakes—confidence in AI is surprisingly strong. More than 80% of employees are at least “somewhat confident” in the accuracy of AI outputs. Many are leaning on it to speed up routine work:
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64% use the time saved to do more work.
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19% take a walk.
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16% go to lunch.
But with efficiency comes anxiety. 52% of employees worry AI could threaten their jobs, especially in industries like wholesale trade (67% concerned) and media/communications (62%).
Generational Divide
Younger workers are more upbeat about AI’s role in the workplace. Among employees aged 18–34:
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59% say AI makes them happier at work vs. just 29% of those 55+.
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84% report AI boosts productivity vs. 62% of the older cohort.
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45% say AI in performance reviews would positively affect their view of their employer—compared to just 10% of those 55+, half of whom said it would negatively affect them.
The generational gap is sharpest around performance reviews, suggesting employers will need to tread carefully when applying AI to sensitive HR processes.
The Onboarding Exception
AI in onboarding is a different story. Only 20% of employees experienced it, but of those, an overwhelming 92% said it positively influenced their view of the company. That makes onboarding a clear early win for HR teams experimenting with AI—less risky than performance reviews, and more appreciated by employees.
The Bottom Line
Employees are adopting AI at scale, often without oversight, and mostly finding it useful. Employers, meanwhile, are lagging on policies, tools, and transparency—raising compliance, security, and fairness risks.
“Employees are rapidly integrating AI into their daily tasks,” said Mary Rizzuti, EisnerAmper’s practice lead of Compensation Resources. “But without deliberate strategy and communication, companies risk losing momentum in innovation.”
For HR leaders, the message is clear: employees want AI, are already using it, and expect their organizations to catch up. The choice is between guiding adoption—or being left behind by it.
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