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The research, conducted by YouGov in December ‘25, surveying 1,000 UK employees and 503 HR decision makers, presents a dramatic perception gap, with HR leaders far more confident and less anxious about job impact than their employees, who are twice as likely to name job losses as their number one AI fear (20% vs. 9%).
“Now is HR’s moment to lead and the anxiety around AI is real but so is the potential,” says Hannah Walton, General Manager, Access People. “People leaders who embrace change while acknowledging concerns will be the ones who shape the future of work, not just react to it. In an ever-evolving landscape, proactive leaders are the ones turning uncertainty into competitive advantage.”
AI adoption is racing ahead of training
The report also paints a clear picture regarding employees’ AI training compared with its usage. Just one in five (19%) of employees say they have received formal training on how to use or manage these tools responsibly. This gap is stark, given that 70% of UK employees are already experimenting with AI and almost half (44%) now use it in their day-to-day roles.
“Rather than asking whether AI will change their roles, employees are now asking how those changes will happen, what support they’ll receive and who will help them adapt,” continued Walton. “Many employees are eager and ambitious, already experimenting with AI tools and upskilling in their spare time, in spite of a lack of company support. They’re adapting but the real question is whether businesses will put in place the right safeguards to ensure data security.”
Job security fears prevail
Headlines abound about mass automation-driven job losses, but the reality is much more nuanced: AI seems to be reshaping jobs rather than replacing them, according to RAND's latest research. Despite this, employees are twice as likely as HR leaders to worry about job loss, particularly in sectors such as media, marketing, construction and retail.
When asked what would make them more confident about AI in the workplace, employees prioritised transparency and oversight: 54% want the right to know when AI is monitoring them; 52% want human review of significant AI-driven decisions and 50% want the right to challenge AI decisions.
Meanwhile, HR decision makers are looking for practical benefits for AI in the workplace: 44% want to reduce time spent on routine admin; 34% want faster insights from people data and 26% want greater capacity for strategic planning.
“It’s natural for leadership to be excited by the efficiency savings AI can offer,” adds Walton. “However, as workplace AI adoption accelerates, the challenge now for leaders is to close the gap between workforce reality and leadership perception. HR leaders who take employee concerns seriously have a unique opportunity to create a confident, content and driven workforce.”
Where employees and HR agree
Despite the anxiety disconnect, both groups agree on two fundamentals. The first is regarding human oversight. Over 70% of employees and HR leaders agree that human judgment must be responsible for making final decisions on key decisions such as redundancy, disciplinary actions and hiring.
The second is reliability, if AI gives incorrect or biased recommendations, which is the number one concern for both groups (64% of employees and 54% of HR leaders).
HR leaders who effectively use AI report clear wins in admin time savings, faster information access, and greater strategic capacity.
HR leaders can download the AI Workplace Report to understand what employees are really thinking and learn how to support them through AI-driven change.
Methodology
Based on exclusive YouGov research commissioned by The Access Group. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample sizes were 1,000 UK employees and 503 HR decision makers. Fieldwork was undertaken between 11th - 19th December 2025. The surveys were carried out online. Employee figures have been weighted and are representative of business size and region.
About The Access Group
The Access Group is one of the largest UK-headquartered business management software providers. It provides solutions that empower more than 160,000 small and mid-sized organisations in commercial and non-profit sectors across Europe, USA and APAC, giving every employee the freedom to do more of what’s important. Its innovative cloud solutions and integrated AI software experience across multiple Access products transform how business technology is used. Access employs over 9,700 people, continuously driving product innovation and customer service excellence.
For more information, visit www.theaccessgroup.com or follow us @TheAccessGroup.