Adapting or Avoiding AI: A Coping Theory Approach to Employee Responses in the Future of Work

This qualitative research study explores how employees in the healthcare technology industry perceive and cope with AI implementation in the workplace, using Lazarus and Folkman (1984) Coping Theory. Through ethnographic semi-structured interviews with twenty-three white-collared professionals, five core themes emerged: Mixed Attitudes Toward AI, Anticipated Benefits of AI Automation, Organizational Gaps in Communication and Support, Support for Continuous Learning, and Privacy and Security Concerns, While employees acknowledged the benefits of AI for efficiency and task reallocation, they also expressed concerns about job security, privacy, and a lack of organizational support. Participants employed both problem-focused coping (e.g., self-directed learning) and emotion-focused coping (e.g., skepticism, avoidance). The research highlights transparent communication, secure AI deployment, and sustained learning support. These findings contribute to the broader discourse on AI adoption and provide actionable strategies for supporting ethical, employee focused AI integration within the workplace.