Be human, get $100 million bonus: EY tells employees who use AI at work

US-based Big Four firm EY will now give its employees rewards for showing human skills. The company says it will invest $100 million, to recognise people who can use AI while bringing skills that this technology cannot easily replace.

In Short

• Three award categories will recognise everyday leadership, transformation and enterprise impact
• Employees at all ranks can recognise colleagues as contributions happen
• EY says business acumen, judgement, adaptability and collaboration will matter more

One of the Big Four consulting firms, Ernst & Young, better known as EY, has decided to reward its employees with million-dollar bonuses for showing human skills. The company has announced that it will invest $100 million, around Rs 800 crore, to reward employees who demonstrate skills such as judgement, adaptability, leadership and collaboration– skills it says are human and not easily replaced by AI in an AI-led workplace.

EY US announced the new rewards programme on August 31, saying it wants to recognise employees who are not only adopting new technology but are also using it to create meaningful results. The programme will also recognise employees who contribute to the firm's culture and provide good client service.

EY's decision to reward employees for these so-called human skills comes at a time when AI is bringing a big shift to the workplace and rapidly changing how people work. Companies are increasingly using AI to handle routine tasks, analyse information and improve productivity. But EY says technology alone is not enough. The firm wants to recognise people who can combine these tools with skills such as business understanding, judgement and the ability to adapt.

How will the bonus programme work?

The $100 million rewards programme will have three categories. Each category will reward employees based on the kind of work they do and the impact they make.

The first is “Everyday leadership”. It will reward employees who help their teams learn, try new things, work together and take the lead in their daily work.

The second is “Transformation that drives measurable results”. Under this category, EY will reward employees whose work brings real change through new ideas, technology, business growth or other improvements.

The third is “Game-changing impact for the enterprise”. This category has been made for employees or teams whose work has a big and lasting impact on EY.

The company notes that this bonus programme is not just for senior employees. EY says professionals across the organisation will be able to recognise their colleagues for good work. According to The Wall Street Journal, employees can receive spot bonuses of up to $500, while individuals or teams behind bigger achievements can receive awards of up to $25,000.

Why is EY giving these bonuses?

EY says the idea is to build a “tech-led, human-powered” workforce. The company wants its employees to learn how to use AI, but it also wants them to develop skills such as good judgement, leadership, adaptability and teamwork, things that AI cannot easily replace.

Dante D’Egidio, EY Americas CEO and US Managing Partner, said the move is about preparing employees for a workplace that is changing quickly. “The pace and complexity of change in our industry require confident leadership,” he said. “This significant investment reinforces our commitment to building the workforce of the future by recognising the skills and behaviours needed to lead our profession and serve our clients with excellence.”

- Ends