Your AI Policy Is Really a Culture Policy Employees are already experimenting with AI.
Great leaders make it safe to talk about how.
Your AI Policy Is Really a Culture Policy Employees are already experimenting with AI.
Great leaders make it safe to talk about how.
THERE’ S A GOOD CHANCE AI has already entered your spa, even if ownership never officially introduced it.
SHRM’ s June 2026 Navigating AI in the Workplace research found 41 percent of workers use AI on the job.
Interestingly, 44 percent of those users described some of their own output as“ AI slop.” SHRM also found higher engagement and stronger commitment among workers whose organizations take an open approach to AI integration.
SILENCE ISN’ T GOVERNANCE If employees aren’ t sure what is acceptable, some will avoid useful technology while others quietly paste information into whatever AI tool they prefer. Neither outcome builds trust.
A simple“ go-caution-stop” framework can help: l GREEN: brainstorming, nonconfidential first drafts, training ideas, summarizing nonsensitive information. l YELLOW: guest communications, hiring materials, performance feedback or anything representing your brand. AI may assist; a person should review. l
RED: confidential guest or employee information entered into unapproved tools, fully automated people decisions, or relying on AI where professional judgment and service safety are required.
MAKE EXPERIMENTATION PART OF LEADERSHIP The Wall Street Journal recently reported on Tapestry, parent company of Coach and Kate Spade, holding its second annual internal AI summit to build employee participation and enthusiasm around AI. Its technology leader summed up the challenge succinctly:
“ AI is not a technology thing. It’ s a culture thing. It’ s about people.”
— YANG LU
That idea fits the spa industry particularly well. Technology will continue to change. The leadership legacy is creating a team that feels safe learning, questioning and adapting together. n
Don’ t just tell employees which AI tools they may use. Tell them what good judgment looks like when they use them.
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Business Insider( August 11, 2026): Help! An AI overview says my business is terrible | https:// www. businessinsider. com / google-ai-overviews-aio-causingchaos-small-businesses-2026-8 Forbes( June 23, 2026): How Small Businesses Are Using AI as an Early Warning System | https:// www. forbes. com / sites / serenitygibbons / 2026 / 06 / 23 / how-smallbusinesses-are-using-ai-as-an-early-warning-system / SHRM( Summer 2026): Navigating AI in the Workplace: 2026 | https:// www. shrm. org / topics-tools / research / navigating-ai-in-the-workplace The Wall Street Journal( August 6, 2026): Coach and Kate Spade Owner Tapestry Shapes a Culture of AI | https:// www. wsj. com / cio-journal / coach-and-katespade-owner-tapestry-shapes-a-culture-of-ai-2abeafac
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