Artificial intelligence is becoming a standard workplace tool in Canada, but many employees remain uncomfortable using it openly, according to a new report from Employment Hero.
The company’s AI Paradox Report found that while workers increasingly recognize AI as an important job skill, many still associate its use with guilt, uncertainty and concerns about legitimacy. Two in five (43 per cent) of Canadian workers said they feel guilty using AI to produce work, rising to 56 per cent among Gen Z employees. Nearly four in 10 respondents said using AI to complete parts of their job feels like cheating.
The findings point to a workplace culture that has yet to fully adapt to the rapid growth of AI. More than one-third of workers (34 per cent) said they hide their use of AI from their employer, while 45 per cent of businesses believe employees are using personal AI accounts for work-related tasks, highlighting concerns around so-called “shadow AI.”
Employment Hero said the issue is less about willingness to adopt the technology and more about a lack of confidence and support. Only 41 per cent of Canadian workers believe their AI skills are sufficient for an AI-driven labour market, while 60 per cent rate their AI competence as low to average.
The report found employees are often developing AI skills on their own. More than half said their employers provide little or no AI training, and 58 per cent reported learning about AI through social media rather than formal workplace programs.
The findings come as Canada continues to focus on improving AI literacy and workforce readiness through federal initiatives aimed at expanding adoption and skills development.
“This research shows that Canada’s challenge isn’t AI adoption — it’s AI confidence,” said Chris Pinkerton, managing director of Employment Hero Canada. “Workers already recognize AI is becoming an essential workplace skill, but many still feel they need to hide using it because they don’t have clear guidance or confidence in what’s acceptable.”
Pinkerton said organizations that succeed with AI will not necessarily be those that adopt the technology most quickly, but those that create clear expectations around its use and help employees build confidence in applying it responsibly.
Employment Hero recommended employers establish clear policies around approved AI tools, encourage open discussion about AI use, invest in training and create opportunities for employees to experiment with the technology in low-risk settings. The report also suggests positioning AI as a professional skill that enhances productivity rather than a shortcut that replaces expertise.
For employees, the company recommended being transparent about how AI is used, applying human judgment to AI-generated outputs, protecting confidential information and continuing to build AI literacy as the technology evolves.
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