The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a call to action for employers to engage workers in the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) within the workplace. This initiative is a response to a White House directive from 2023, aiming to ensure that AI adoption benefits both businesses and their employees while safeguarding workers’ rights.
Balancing Benefits and Protections
The DOL’s guidance, consisting of eight “AI Principles for Developers and Employers,” serves as a blueprint for leveraging AI’s advantages while preventing potential adverse effects on the workforce. The principles advocate for transparent AI integration, with a strong emphasis on worker input and representation. They also stress the need for AI systems to be designed, developed, and trained with worker protection in mind, and for employers to establish robust governance and oversight mechanisms.
The guidance warns against AI infringing on workers’ rights, such as the right to organize, and calls for the careful handling of data by AI systems, limiting its scope and storage. These recommendations align with President Biden’s 2023 executive order, which directed federal agencies to craft AI guidelines that mitigate risks and amplify benefits for workers.
Insight from the Field
The DOL’s principles are informed by contributions from various stakeholders, including labor unions, workers, researchers, academics, and employers, gathered through public listening sessions. The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, for instance, acknowledged its role in shaping the DOL’s principles, recognizing the guidance as a valuable tool for understanding AI’s impact on the workforce.
While some employers have already integrated generative AI into HR processes, concerns about compliance and the displacement of workers persist. The DOL’s recent guidance, alongside other federal and state regulations, aims to navigate these challenges, ensuring that AI serves as an enhancement rather than a detriment to the quality of work and life for employees.
Incorporating AI strategically in supply chain operations requires a thoughtful balance between harnessing its benefits and safeguarding worker protections. The U.S. Department of Labor’s principles provide a roadmap for employers to engage workers in the AI adoption process, ensuring transparency, data privacy, and governance. By integrating worker-centric AI development practices, organizations can harness the power of AI while respecting the rights and well-being of their employees.
