The hidden cost of your AI rollout: burning out the high performers running it

Companies are leaning on their best people to lead the AI charge. A Wellhub executive explains why that strategy could backfire—and what HR is doing about it.

Many employees are burned out. And, increased AI usage and oversight might be making matters worse, especially for top performers, who are often tasked with leading the charge.

So it should come as no surprise that 88% of people leaders say retaining top talent is their biggest priority right now, according to a survey by wellness platform Wellhub. And perhaps even less surprising is that 85% report using wellness programs to achieve this goal.

“What they’re finding is that AI either…amplifies burnout, or it can amplify performance,” Carolee Gearhart, Wellhub’s chief revenue officer, told HR Brew. “Everyone’s aiming for the scenario in which it’s going to be amplifying performance and grappling with the way that it’s accelerating burnout.”

Why there’s a focus on top talent. Many HR pros are focused on retaining top talent because they’re often the ones leading the adoption, implementation, and oversight of AI tools, and setting an example for the rest of the organization, Gearhart said. As a result, they may be at greater risk of burnout than the rest of the organization.

“Those top folks are getting asked to do more. In many cases, they’re getting asked to support other people in building the skills within the team,” Gearhart said.

If they burn out and decide to leave, she added, it could be costly for HR.

“It’s probably at their peril that they’re not paying attention to who are the folks that have the most desirable skills and that are able to help the rest of the organization in this moment,” she said.

Wellness programs can help. In an effort to avoid this fate, many people leaders are focusing on employee well-being, Gearhart said. Many employees, she added, especially top performers, expect wellness programs from their companies.

“It is really important…how the company is communicating to employees about the importance of them as a whole person, their whole life, and what they can do to support that,” Gearhart said. “Being silent on that is probably one of the biggest mistakes that folks make.”

HR pros can retain top performers by understanding and meeting their individual wellness needs, she said.

“Really seeing that aspect of the holistic element. How are people sleeping? How are they eating?” she said. “All of these things coming together in: how do we build that resilience and support around these folks who are getting taxed in new ways?”

This report was originally published by HR Brew.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com