AI is changing employee complaints and requests—Here’s how to respond

Artificial intelligence (AI) use is now pervasive, and the era of AI-generated employee communication has arrived. Employers are increasingly encountering emails and letters that feel a little too polished, unusually structured, or strangely impersonal, not to mention completely different from any other communication they’ve ever received from employees. Many employees are turning to AI tools to assist in drafting their complaints, raise issues within the workplace, or request accommodations.

This introduces new challenges for employers: How do you recognize AI-generated complaints? How should you interpret them? And most important, how do you respond in an appropriate way? Let’s break it down.

Why are employees using AI tools to write complaints or requests?

Writing a complaint can be intimidating. AI tools help employees remove some of the emotional charge and present issues in a structured, neutral tone.

Employees who are non-native English speakers or who struggle with formal writing can also use AI tools to assist them in articulating concerns more confidently. They can quickly generate a draft complaint or request using AI tools.

How do you determine if a complaint or request was written by AI tools?