The 'peanut butter raise' trend is faltering in the AI era as companies find it hard to justify paying super users the same as everyone else | Fortune

"Only about 4% of employers in the U.S. are giving out raises in this way, according to a recent survey by consulting firm Mercer."

"Google has begun incorporating AI usage into performance reviews for software engineers, though managers have discretion over how it is measured, The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year. Meanwhile, Accenture CEO Julie Sweet said last month that AI fluency is required for workers to be promoted."

"A global survey of more than 3,700 executives and employees by SAP subsidiary WalkMe found that 54% of workers were bypassing their company's AI tools to do their work manually, while another third said they hesitated to use AI because it makes their work more complicated."

"These AI "super users" were three times more likely to have received a promotion and a pay raise in the past year, Dan Schawbel, managing partner at Workplace Intelligence, previously said in a statement to Fortune."

Equal-payment “peanut butter” raises are not becoming common despite earlier indications that many employers planned to adopt them. A Mercer survey found only about 4% of U.S. employers are giving raises in that way. AI is a major factor because it reshapes work and performance expectations. Many leaders view technology as central to strategy, and some companies incorporate AI usage into performance reviews or require AI fluency for promotion. Some workers resist by bypassing company AI tools or avoiding them due to added complexity. Others adopt AI aggressively as “super users,” who are more likely to receive promotions and pay raises.

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