AI "Workslop" Is Costing Workers Hours Each Week, New Report Finds

Two-thirds of employees say they spend up to six hours a week fixing low-quality, AI-generated work.

GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico, Feb. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As organizations adopt AI tools at increasing speed, a growing number of workers say quality standards are quietly slipping, creating a new and often invisible burden at work. New research from Zety®, a resume templates service, finds that low-quality AI-generated output, known as "workslop," is now a routine part of many employees' workloads, costing time, increasing stress, and eroding morale.

According to the Rise of Workslop Report, most workplaces have not fully embraced "workslop," but tolerance is rising. While 39% of employees say low-quality AI output is completely unacceptable and corrected, many report some level of acceptance, especially when deadlines are prioritized over polish—leaving workers to fix problems themselves.

Key Findings

• Workslop is widespread: One in five employees say low-quality AI work is often overlooked if deadlines are met, while nearly one-third say it is noticed but tolerated.
• Time loss is significant: 66% of workers spend up to six hours or more each week correcting errors caused by "workslop."
• Employee impact is growing: "Workslop" contributes to higher stress (29%), lower morale (25%), reduced productivity (25%), and burnout (21%).
• Generational divide: More than half of workers (53%) believe younger generations are more tolerant of "workslop" than older colleagues.

Shifting Standards Around Quality
As AI tools become embedded in daily workflows, attitudes toward quality appear to be changing. In their workplace, employees report that "workslop" is viewed as:

• Completely unacceptable and corrected: 39%
• Somewhat unacceptable but tolerated: 31%
• Somewhat acceptable and overlooked if deadlines are met: 21%
• Completely acceptable, with speed prioritized over polish: 9%

These findings suggest that while outright acceptance remains limited, tolerance is becoming increasingly common, particularly in fast-paced environments.

The Hidden Cost to Workers
When "workslop" reaches employees' inboxes, nearly half (49%) say they fix the issues themselves rather than escalate or reject the work. This added labor often goes unrecognized, yet it adds up quickly. Two-thirds of workers report spending up to six or more hours each week correcting AI-related errors.

As a result, employees say "workslop" significantly or moderately harms:

• Stress levels: 70%
• Productivity: 67%
• Overall morale: 65%
• Burnout risk: 53%

"Workslop creates a layer of invisible labor that rarely shows up in job descriptions or performance reviews," said Jasmine Escalera, career expert for Zety. "Employees are quietly fixing mistakes just to keep work moving, often outside their core responsibilities. Over time, that extra, unrecognized work adds up to exhaustion, frustration, and disengagement."

Broader Workplace Risks
Beyond individual strain, workers also see organizational consequences. The top perceived risks associated with "workslop" include:

• Wasted time and lost productivity (36%)
• Spread of misleading or false information (30%)
• Damage to professional or organizational reputation (24%)

The data highlights a growing tension in the modern workplace: as AI accelerates output, workers are increasingly responsible for absorbing the quality costs. Without clearer standards and accountability, speed risks becoming the default measure of success, leaving employees to shoulder the consequences.

For detailed insights on the Rise of Workslop Report, access the full study at https://zety.com/blog/rise-of-workslop-report or contact Skyler Acevedo, at [email protected].

Methodology

The findings presented are based on a nationally representative survey conducted by Zety using Pollfish on January 8, 2025. The survey collected responses from 1,000 U.S. employees who have encountered workslop and examined its impact on their daily work, trust in leadership, stress and productivity, and attitudes toward AI training. Respondents answered different types of questions, including yes/no, scale-based questions where they indicated their level of agreement with statements, and multiple-choice where they could select from a list of provided options. The sample consisted of 49% female, 50% male, and 1% nonbinary respondents, with 12% Gen Z, 30% Millennials, 32% Gen X, and 26% Baby Boomers.

About Zety

Zety resume templates and Zety's resume and cover letter generator are trusted by 12 million users each year. With 100s of options to choose from, including professionally designed resume templates to beat the ATS, users can create a professional resume in less than 15 minutes. Since 2016, Zety's career blog has provided free data-driven insights to over 40 million readers annually, empowering professionals at every stage. The editorial team includes Certified Professional Resume Writers, with the best career advice and evidence-based findings featured in Business Insider, CNBC, and Forbes, among others. Follow Zety on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, X, and Instagram for free expert career tips and updates.

SOURCE Zety