{"id":6008,"date":"2024-12-19T17:55:05","date_gmt":"2024-12-19T16:55:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rivistaeco.com\/?p=6008"},"modified":"2024-12-23T11:20:30","modified_gmt":"2024-12-23T10:20:30","slug":"how-you-feel-when-your-coworker-is-a-robot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rivistaeco.com\/en\/2024\/12\/19\/how-you-feel-when-your-coworker-is-a-robot\/","title":{"rendered":"How You Feel When Your Coworker Is a Robot"},"content":{"rendered":"

Automation, industrial robots, and artificial intelligence have already entered the workplace. While they can reduce workloads and minimize the risk of injury, they can also cause anxiety and feelings of inadequacy among workers. Whether their overall consequences are more positive or negative remains unclear, but one thing is certain: unions and policymakers play a crucial role in guiding the adoption of these technologies while protecting the dignity of work.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Automation, industrial robots, and artificial intelligence are reshaping work and production processes, directly impacting workers’ physical health and safety. At the same time, these changes can introduce job uncertainty and affect workers’ dignity, leading to mental health challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n

Robots and AI can alleviate the physical burden of labor-intensive tasks, yielding positive outcomes for physical health. However, the rapid transformation of production processes can also lead to stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms for at-risk workers\u2014particularly in the absence of strong social safety nets.<\/span><\/p>\n

Machines and the Prevention of Workplace Injuries<\/b><\/h3>\n

Several studies highlight the potential of robots, drones, and AI to improve worker safety\u2014a critically important goal, especially as workplace injuries remain a pressing issue.<\/span><\/p>\n

The numbers speak for themselves. In Italy, according to INAIL data, there were over 590,000 workplace injuries in 2023 alone. On average, 1,200 work-related deaths occur annually\u2014more than three per day. By automating repetitive and dangerous tasks, we have a significant opportunity to enhance workplace safety and quality of life.<\/span><\/p>\n

Technology can also broaden job opportunities for older workers and individuals with disabilities who may otherwise be unable to perform physically demanding tasks. With aging populations and demographic decline, such technological support is becoming increasingly essential.<\/span><\/p>\n

For instance, drones are widely used to inspect infrastructure\u2014such as bridges, wind turbines, and pipelines\u2014eliminating the need to expose workers to hazardous environments. Drones can also monitor construction sites, identify risks, and access hard-to-reach areas, thus improving both safety and efficiency. One example comes from the Swiss electric company KWO in Oberhasli. Following an incident where falling rocks injured hikers near Lake Gemersee, KWO began using drones to ensure the safety of its 400 workers, who often operate in avalanche-prone environments.<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking ahead, robots and AI will increasingly assist in sewer maintenance, drilling, and excavation\u2014tasks that are critical for public health but inherently risky. Robots equipped with advanced sensors already monitor machinery and equipment conditions in real time, detecting anomalies before they lead to accidents or malfunctions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Technology’s Role in Healthcare<\/b><\/h3>\n

But what do the data reveal? While we know little about the full impact of artificial intelligence, studies examining industrial robots provide promising insights. Research using U.S. and German data\u2014two leading nations in robot adoption\u2014shows that industrial robots have substantially reduced workplace injuries. In China, where robot use surged after Xi Jinping’s 2014 speech on the “robotic revolution,” similar improvements were observed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Healthcare is one sector where technology can greatly improve safety for both workers and patients.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hospital workers face significantly higher injury rates, often due to overexertion. In the U.S. alone, nursing assistants reported 15,360 cases of musculoskeletal disorders in 2018, representing 5.6% of all such cases. Staff shortages and an aging workforce exacerbate the risks of lifting and moving patients\u2014tasks made even more hazardous by increasing obesity rates. The issue is particularly acute in elderly care facilities. In Japan, robots in nursing homes have reduced worker injuries, lowered staff resignation rates, and improved care quality.<\/span><\/p>\n

Artificial intelligence has also proven valuable in healthcare, assisting with X-ray analysis, diagnostics, and risk assessments. AI and robots are successfully used in surgery as well. However, a key question remains: how can automation be implemented without undermining the professional dignity and motivation of healthcare workers?<\/span><\/p>\n

A New Role for Unions<\/b><\/h3>\n

While technologies can reduce physical strain and injury risks, they also raise concerns about workers’ mental well-being. Automation can contribute to stress, anxiety, and even substance abuse due to job insecurity and uncertain futures.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here, unions and labor policies have a decisive role to play. For example, in the U.S., the adoption of industrial robots has had more negative effects in regions with lower wages and weaker unions. In contrast, Germany\u2014another global leader in robotics\u2014has not seen increases in worker anxiety or depression. This is likely due to Germany\u2019s stronger worker protections, union involvement, and corporate governance models.<\/span><\/p>\n

As artificial intelligence adoption accelerates, institutions must step up to protect workers and mitigate risks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Preventing Anxiety in the AI Era<\/b><\/h3>\n

According to McKinsey & Company, by 2022, 50% of companies were already using AI in at least one operational area, and the global AI market is projected to grow by over 37% annually through 2030. Yet, we still lack sufficient data to understand the full impact of this transformation.<\/span><\/p>\n

AI technologies are increasingly used to monitor machinery and employees, predict risks, and enhance productivity. However, challenges remain regarding cybersecurity, worker privacy, and intellectual property rights. Moreover, AI\u2019s impact on workers’ mental health and well-being is not yet fully understood.<\/span><\/p>\n

AI can improve productivity and complement workers’ skills, but it can also displace jobs. The winners and losers will depend on which tasks are automated and which workers are most affected. For many, the need to acquire new skills or transition to new roles creates feelings of inadequacy and anxiety. Interactions with AI systems may undermine confidence, leading to frustration, stress, and depression rooted in job insecurity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many European countries are preparing workers for this shift through education and training programs. A critical factor is workers\u2019 perceived autonomy: mental well-being depends heavily on how workers are involved in changes to their roles and tasks. For example, 61% of Swedes hold a positive view of robots and AI, according to a recent European Commission survey. This optimism stems from trust in Sweden\u2019s strong social safety net and efforts by unemployment agencies and unions to support displaced workers.<\/span><\/p>\n

To ensure workers benefit from new technologies, governments, companies, and unions must collaborate. Protecting job dignity, investing in human capital, and offering reskilling opportunities will be fundamental to shaping positive attitudes and mitigating negative effects.<\/span><\/p>\n

Osea Giuntella is a professor of economics at the University of Pittsburgh. He is also a faculty research fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research, a research fellow at the Institute of Labor Economics, and a research affiliate at CHIBE.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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