The conditional indirect effect of perceived robot threat on employees’ proactive behavior: the moderating role of human–robot interaction

In the era of artificial intelligence, an increasing number of robots are entering the workplace as active contributors to organizational tasks. While robots can enhance employees' efficiency by complementing human capabilities, they may also lead to strong perceptions of threat among employees. Integrating the threat-rigidity and threat-flexibility theory, the study examines how perceived robot threat indirectly affects employees' proactive behavior through emotional exhaustion and cognitive flexibility, and how these indirect effects are contingent on human-robot interaction. Focusing on task-oriented workplace robots, the study employs a multi-wave, multi-source field survey and a scenario-based experimental design conducted in China. Results show that when human-robot interaction intensity is low, perceived robot threat increases emotional exhaustion and limits cognitive flexibility, thereby indirectly inhibiting employees' proactive behavior. When interaction intensity is high, the positive effect of perceived robot threat on emotional exhaustion is attenuated or even reversed, and its positive effect on cognitive flexibility is strengthened, with these pathways indirectly promoting employees' proactive behavior. By adopting a human-robot interaction lens, the study reveals the boundary conditions in which perceived robot threat yields divergent indirect effects on employee behavior, offering insights for organizations seeking to anticipate and manage the psychological impact of workplace robots.