Can Employees Be Terminated for Using ChatGPT During Work Hours?

Some of the world’s biggest tech giants have officially banned their employees from using ChatGPT at work, while others have limited or are encouraging workers to opt for alternative tools. However, the legal implications of using OpenAI’s popular AI chatbot remain unclear, with workers uncertain if they can be fired or face disciplinary action for using the software. According to legal experts, if an organization has officially restricted the use of generative AI at work, it has the authority to take disciplinary action against employees, potentially leading to firing. Utilizing ChatGPT for sensitive data analysis may violate data protection laws, including those for business secrets and medical or banking secrecy, potentially leading to contractual breaches or legal violations. HR experts point out that even if the data shared is not crucial, an organization may still take strict action, giving a strong warning and, if caught again, terminating the employee for repeated offenses compromising organizational priorities. As a result, even in the absence of an explicit law banning the use of ChatGPT, employees may still get fired for using such tech at work. If ChatGPT is not officially banned in the workplace, its usage may still result in serious implications. Companies restrict the use of ChatGPT due to security concerns, and employees must exercise caution when inputting information into such a system as it may potentially breach confidentiality if proprietary data is fed into the AI engine. Legal experts caution that not following the policies clearly spelled out may lead to legal entanglements, being fired, or even blacklisted.