Podcast Summary

Using AI at Work: AI in the Workplace & Generative AI for Business Leaders

Episode 84 – Mohamed Yousuf – Smart Workforce AI
Host: Chris Daigle
Date: December 29, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode, featuring Mohamed Yousuf (CEO, Smart Workforce AI), delves into the emerging applications of AI for workforce management—focusing on scheduling, demand forecasting, reducing burnout, and optimizing labor costs across various sectors. The conversation spotlights real-world results, the impact on operational efficiency, and a vision for accessible, AI-powered workforce tools for businesses of all sizes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Problem: Workforce Scheduling Challenges and Burnout

Timestamps: 00:00 – 04:56

• Burnout and high turnover are costing industries millions, especially in critical sectors (healthcare, hospitality, services).
• Example: In Canada, “about 40% of nurses below the age of 35...change careers completely due to burnout.” (A, 00:00)
• Outdated scheduling tools make the issue worse.
• Mohamed’s career: From frontline scheduler to global workforce planning for airlines and VFX, noticing consistent inefficiencies wherever demand and scheduling complexity existed.

2. The Solution: Applying AI to Workforce Management

Timestamps: 04:56 – 07:54

• Traditional systems struggle to match demand with supply, optimize schedules, or adapt to volatility.
• AI automates forecasting, schedule creation, and even handles real-time disruptions.
• Mohamed: “We’re trying to build an intelligent decision making tool that can complement the people who are working.” (A, 05:58)
• AI can learn patterns (e.g., call-outs during graveyard shifts) to optimize schedules and improve fairness.

3. Real-world Case Studies & Economic Impact

Timestamps: 08:49 – 16:23; 20:58 – 23:03

• Healthcare example: Predicting patient surges, anticipating seasonal and demographic shifts.
• Integration of external data (immigration, government forecasts) for proactive workforce planning.
• Cleaning Company Case Study (Ontario, Canada):
  • 10% reduction in labor costs
  • 18% productivity gain for existing employees
  • 10% lower turnover
  • Annual savings: $1.65M USD for 100-employee company (A, 16:23)
• “What we can do in a week, an AI system can do in a matter of hours.” (A, 16:58)
• Mohamed stresses the importance of making these tools accessible for small to medium businesses, not just enterprises.

4. High-Impact Industries for AI Workforce Automation

Timestamps: 13:16 – 15:40

• Hospitality: “Very seasonal [...] exactly know when to hire part timers, when to let them go.” (A, 13:16)
• Event-based businesses (hotels, restaurants during summits or World Cups)
• Construction, retail, healthcare—all benefit from forecasting peaks and optimizing staff allocation.
• Dangers of “panic hiring and panic firing”—AI can help organizations avoid damaging cycles.

5. Integration, Compliance, and Flexibility

Timestamps: 24:29 – 27:27

• Adapts to complex labor laws (e.g., California’s statutes).
• Drag-and-drop rule engine: Upload contracts, labor codes—system adapts rules per employee profile.
• Flexible contract management (multi-contract environments, overrides for special cases).
• “We have a drag and drop. So you can take the California labor law, drag all of the documents, put it into ... the system.” (A, 24:38)

6. AI Co-Pilot: Empowering Managers and Teams

Timestamps: 26:42 – 33:39

• Smart AI Assistant: Allows admins and employees to interact via natural language for reporting absences, checking leave balances, requesting swaps, etc., even via platforms like WhatsApp.
• Employee empowerment: More autonomy over shifts increases satisfaction, reduces attrition.
• Vision for “Uber-style” shift filling; automating notifications and shift handovers.

7. Accessibility and ROI for Smaller Businesses

Timestamps: 31:27 – 39:09

• Works for organizations as small as 30+ staff.
• Allows managers to focus on strategic tasks rather than firefighting scheduling crises.
• Enables smaller businesses to access “expertise that would have cost tens of millions” at an affordable, per-user rate.
• Pricing: $7–$10/user/month (enterprise custom integrations negotiated).
• “Now for as little as seven bucks a month...I’ve got...relief.” (B, 39:09)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Burnout in Healthcare (00:00):
  “In Canada, about 40% of nurses below the age of 35, they change careers completely due to burnout.”
  – Mohamed Yousuf

• On Economic Impact (16:23):
  “Just in labor costs in a year, they save $500,000; in productivity gains, about $900,000 ... turnover saving almost $250,000 ... a saving of $1.65 million USD.”
  – Mohamed Yousuf, on a 100-person cleaning company

• On AI as a Tool (16:58):
  “As smart as we are, what we can do in probably a week, an AI system can do in a matter of hours.”
  – Mohamed Yousuf

• On AI Empowering Employees (33:39):
  “Let the managers manage. Let the employees enjoy their life.”
  – Mohamed Yousuf

• On Breaking Barriers for SMEs (36:52):
  “Previously, before AI, I wouldn’t have been able to afford the expertise. I wouldn’t have been able to afford the software. But now...this becomes accessible to everybody.”
  – Chris Daigle

Notable Segments with Timestamps

• Burnout stats in healthcare: 00:00–00:09
• Case study financial breakdown: 16:23–20:24
• Drag-and-drop labor law compliance: 24:38–25:13
• Smart AI Assistant/Employee Interactions: 26:42–29:26
• “Uber for shift swaps” concept: 31:27–33:39
• Pricing structure explained: 37:26–38:29

Resources & Call to Action

• Smart Workforce AI: smartworkforce.io
• Connect with Mohamed Yousuf on LinkedIn ([A, 40:42])
• Pilot programs available
• Host suggests: “If you’re not doing this in your own business and the person that is, give them a pat on the back ... this is a lot of work.” (B, 39:09)

Tone & Takeaways

• Practical, insightful, real-world examples—not theoretical.
• Candid, friendly dialogue that demystifies AI for non-technical leaders.
• Strong advocacy for employee well-being alongside profit and efficiency.
• Accessible, actionable guidance for businesses ranging from modest to enterprise scale.

For business leaders, HR, and operations managers, this episode offers a compelling blueprint to use AI for transforming a perpetual cost center into a competitive advantage—while making work-life better for everyone involved.