Working with robots as a double-edged sword: implications for work design, work meaningfulness, and job satisfaction

Robots have become central drivers of contemporary industrial transformation, reshaping not only production processes but also the way people experience their work (Kumar & Nayyar, 2020; Berkers et al., 2023). As their presence increases in manufacturing environments (International Federation of Robotics, 2023), it becomes essential to understand how daily interaction with these technologies changes job characteristics and associated work outcomes (Parker & Grote, 2022). This dissertation draws on theoretical frameworks from work design, including the Job Characteristics Model (Hackman & Oldham, 1976), work design theory (Humphrey et al., 2007), and the SMART Work Design Model (Parker & Knight, 2024). The research proposes and analyzes the frequency of interaction with robots (FIR) as a key antecedent in work design and two central dimensions: skill variety and role overload. It also examines how these, in turn, influence work meaning and job satisfaction. Additionally, work experience is incorporated as a moderating variable. Using a quantitative approach based on questionnaires administered in a Spanish manufacturing company, the results reveal double-edged relationships. On one hand, FIR increases skill variety, which translates into greater work meaning and job satisfaction. On the other hand, FIR intensifies role overload, reducing meaning and satisfaction. Unexpectedly, work experience was found to amplify the relationship between FIR and overload: employees with more years of experience perceive greater strain derived from frequent interaction with robots. This work contributes to work design theories by establishing FIR as a critical antecedent of job characteristics, expanding the understanding of how robotization transforms the subjective experience of employment. Practically, it offers recommendations for organizations. The dissertation provides strategies to enhance skill variety while simultaneously implementing measures to mitigate risks associated with role overload. In conclusion, the research highlights that interaction with robots constitutes a complex dynamic that redefines both working conditions and individual perceptions, opening new avenues for future research on the integration of technology in the workplace.