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Misusing AI tools at work could lead to severe consequences, including the potential loss of employment, especially if such actions violate company policies on AI usage.
“The repercussions generally align with those for any other violations of workplace policies,” explained Giuseppe Carabetta, an associate professor specializing in workplace and business law at the University of Technology Sydney, in an interview with nine.com.au.
“The Fair Work tribunal has consistently supported dismissals in cases where employees have violated policies related to data handling, privacy, social media, and information security,” he added.
According to a recent survey, nearly 20 percent of employed respondents acknowledged using AI tools at work daily.
Among these respondents, almost half confessed to depending on AI multiple times throughout the day.
A futher 19 per cent said they use AI weekly, while more than 60 per cent said they never use AI on the job.
Of those who do use AI at work, the majority said they only use ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and other AI tools for minor tasks like writing emails and checking spelling.
Nearly one in three use AI to produce work like reports and presentations.
About 10 per cent use it for other tasks like translating, researching, writing feedback, producing artwork and “finding answers to questions asked by customers”.
A little over 10 per cent admitted their employer is unaware of their AI use at work and 15 per cent are unsure if their boss knows they use AI.
More concerningly, only 32 per cent of Aussies who use AI at work actually know if their employer has an AI use policy and what it entails.
“Even without a policy, an employer could still discipline an employee if AI use caused a privacy breach, disclosure of confidential information, reputational damage, or unsafe or discriminatory outcome,” Carabetta said.
If there’s no AI policy, workers can protect themselves in a few ways: never put confidential information into public AI tools; only use employer‑approved or ‘secure’ AI systems; and follow any other existing employer policies.
If in doubt, workers can also ask an authorised manager what AI use is permitted.
“If the worker knew the rules and ignored them, then even a first offence may justify termination,” Carabetta said.
“Especially where confidentiality or client trust is undermined.”
The nine.com.au poll, which runs once a fortnight, canvases the views of the Nine audience on 9Nation, which is an online community of our readers and viewers.
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