How is automation related to work characteristics and employee well-being? A work design perspective

BackgroundAutomation, including both robots and AI, are increasingly implemented in the public sector to handle an increased demand for services while facing a shortage of staff. However, little is known of how automation is related to employees' work characteristics and well-being.ObjectiveThe purpose of the present study was to examine how automation is related to work characteristics and well-being in a national sample of social workers.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted with a sample of 1428 social workers in Sweden, comparing those working with automation technologies (e.g., robotization in terms of automated decision-making support in financial aid) to those without.ResultsThe findings indicate that automation is negatively related to relational aspects of work, such as beneficiary contact and social support, and increases perceived workload and role conflict. However, no significant differences were found on decision-making autonomy, role clarity, or skill variety. Despite these work design changes, no significant differences in well-being outcomes, such as burnout and vigor, were observed between the two groups.ConclusionThe findings suggest that automation may alter the nature of social work without necessarily changing employee well-being. These insights have implications for organizations seeking to implement automation in a way that supports employees' work experience and well-being.