AI is helping managers prepare for one of work's hardest tasks: Difficult employee conversations

Managers are using AI for one of work's toughest tasks: Difficult employee conversations

AI tools let managers rehearse difficult conversations about performance, pay and layoffs, but experts say privacy safeguards and human judgment are essential.

AI is helping managers prepare for one of work's hardest tasks: Difficult employee conversations

AI tools let managers rehearse difficult conversations about performance, pay and layoffs, but experts say privacy safeguards and human judgment are essential.

Managers Are Quietly Asking AI How to Break Bad News to Employees

A 2026 Predictive Index survey finds 74% of CEOs think their managers can handle tough pay, performance and layoff talks alone, but 42% of managers say they struggle with delivery. Many are quietly rehearsing those conversations with public AI tools, and 44% have entered real employee names and performance details into them, even though only 45% of companies have a policy governing it.