UK Shift workers say it’s not AI they fear; it’s being left out of the conversation.
New research reveals that shift workers have received little to no transparency on how AI could affect their roles.
London, UK. 11 November 2025. Nearly half (44%) of UK shift workers say their employers rarely or never consult them on how their jobs will be impacted by AI, delivering a stark warning that the AI revolution risks leaving the frontline behind. The new research from Deputy, the global people platform for shift-based work, also found 56% of workers have received little to no transparency on how AI could affect their roles, while 82% are demanding clearer information about their digital rights.
The findings come from Deputy’s newly-launched Better Together: How AI and Human Connection Will Transform Frontline Work report in partnership with Workplace Intelligence, which surveyed attitudes towards the impact of the AI revolution from 1,500 shift workers across the UK, US, and Australia across the hospitality, retail, healthcare, and foodservice sectors.
Workers Aren’t Afraid of AI - They’re Afraid of Being Ignored
Despite feeling excluded from AI decision-making, this hasn’t heightened scepticism towards the technology amongst shift workers. 83% say they haven’t seen AI replace jobs in their workplace, and 54% don’t expect it to happen in the next five years. Far from resisting change, most want more: over half (53%) want their companies to invest in more AI technology, and 97% are satisfied with the existing tools in their roles.
“AI isn’t a plug-and-play solution — it’s a culture shift,” said Silvija Martincevic, CEO of Deputy. “Our research shows nearly half of workplaces are already using AI, but only one in four workers personally interact with it, and most aren’t told how it affects their jobs. That’s not innovation, that’s isolation. The real challenge isn’t building smarter tools, it’s building trust. When workers are trained, consulted, and given transparency, AI becomes more than a system upgrade; it becomes shared progress. The future of work will belong to organisations that treat AI as a people project first, and a technology project second.”
Women, Retail and Boomer Workers Feel Most Invisible in AI Talks
The data also uncovered significant sector, gender, and generational disparities:
- Women report less consultation than men (47% vs. 39%) and are also less aware of their rights (40% vs. 60%)
- Retail workers are the least likely to be consulted on AI (50% say rarely or never), while hospitality performs best - only 29% reported minimal involvement in AI discussions
- Baby Boomers feel the most excluded (57% rarely or never consulted), compared to Millennials (38%) and Gen Z (39%)
Dan Schwabel, Managing Partner at Workplace Intelligence and New York Times’ bestselling author, adds: "Our research shows that UK frontline workers aren’t buying into the AI apocalypse narrative, even as rising National Minimum Wage rates and employer National Insurance Contributions are prompting more automation investments in sectors like retail and hospitality. The real challenge isn’t technology itself — it’s inclusion. Employees want to be part of the conversation around how AI is designed and deployed. Businesses that fail to involve their workforce risk disengagement, because the future of work isn’t just about technology or people — it’s about both."
The insights from the Deputy’s Better Together Report build on calls earlier this year from the Trades Union Congress for a pro-worker AI innovation strategy. They reinforce calls for stronger involvement in the development of AI research and systems and greater awareness of digital rights as AI technology emerges.
Click below to download the report:
About the Better Together report
The Better Together Report, produced in partnership with Workplace Intelligence, is a first-of-its-kind study focused on understanding how shift workers experience and perceive AI technology in their day-to-day jobs. It explores what AI really means for the 2.7 billion people who clock in, not those behind desks, but the baristas, carers, nurses, and retail teams on the frontline. The report delves into how these workers feel about AI, the benefits and challenges they’re experiencing, and how it’s already affecting their stress levels, productivity, sense of value, and connection at work.
About Deputy
Deputy is the intuitive, people platform built specifically for shift work. Trusted by over 1.5 million shift workers and 380,000 workplaces in more than 100 countries, Deputy empowers managers to plan, adapt, and grow their businesses effectively, while giving teams greater control over their time and schedules. With AI-powered tools for effortless hiring, onboarding, forecasting, time tracking, compliance, and mobile-first communication, Deputy keeps every shift running smoothly, all in one platform. From flexible scheduling to real-time insights and accurate payroll, Deputy enables businesses to make smarter decisions and build stronger, more loyal teams. More than just software, Deputy is the innovative force behind better shifts and fairer workplaces. Discover how we’re improving the world of work, one shift at a time, at www.deputy.com and follow us on LinkedIn for the latest updates and insights.
