EY Puts $100 Million Into Rewards for Human Skills Like Judgment in the AI Era

Ernst & Young’s U.S. firm is putting $100 million into a rewards program for employees who build what it calls “future-focused skills,” such as business acumen, judgment and adaptability, and who use technology to drive innovation and better client service. EY announced the program Aug. 31.

Spot awards go up to $500, and individuals or teams whose work makes a material difference to the firm can receive cash awards of up to $25,000, the Wall Street Journal reported, according to Fortune.

The program has three tiers:

• Everyday leadership: learning, experimentation, collaboration and leadership in the moment
• Transformation that drives measurable results: contributions that drive meaningful change through innovation, disruption, technology or growth
• Game-changing impact for the enterprise: individuals or teams whose actions have a long-lasting, material impact on the firm

Employees at every level can also recognize colleagues’ contributions as they happen.

“The pace and complexity of change in our industry require confident leadership,” said Dante D’Egidio, EY Americas CEO and U.S. managing partner. Ginnie Carlier, EY Americas chief talent and culture officer, said: “How we reward our people defines what we value as a firm. And what we value are confident professionals who continuously push themselves to learn fast and drive a lasting impact.”

Paying for judgment

The program reflects a problem across professional services. AI is taking over routine audit and tax work, and firms have to convince clients that the people reviewing that output are still worth paying for. Fortune noted that 76% of KPMG’s latest summer intern class said future success will require both strong human skills and the ability to direct AI, while 43% worried that relying too much on technology could weaken their critical thinking.

The pipeline is also changing. Fortune cited a BambooHR survey finding that a third of new accounting and finance hires quit within their first year, and that senior hires outnumber entry-level hires 3 to 1.

EY says the awards are part of multibillion-dollar talent investments, including the EY Career Residency program it announced in August to replace the traditional internship. About two years ago, the firm committed $1 billion over three years to compensation and technology, including higher early-career pay and AI-enabled audit and tax platforms, CFO Dive reported.

For other employers, the takeaway is in how the incentives are designed. EY isn’t just rewarding employees for using AI tools. It’s paying for results and for the judgment that turns AI output into something a client will pay for.