Employees Have FOBO: 5 Important Factors to Manage the AI Anxiety

Sandra Moran, Chief Marketing Officer at Schoox, connected with HRMorning to talk about FOBO, or fear of becoming obsolete, and how AI is affecting employees. In the article, she explains that the root issue is uncertainty about which skills matter now, and how employers can spot early signs by watching for changes in an employee’s confidence, engagement, and willingness to adapt. She also shares practical ways organizations can address FOBO through skills-based frontline development, starting with a skills map that defines what the job requires, assesses the skills employees have today, and closes the gap with targeted training. Sandra explains that when organizations connect training and development directly to career growth and create learning opportunities employees can apply on the job, they build the kind of confidence that comes from real skill-building rather than simply checking a training box. The result is a workforce that is better prepared to adapt as roles, technology, and business needs change, and ready to make a meaningful impact on business performance.