Rise of robots causing burnout and job insecurity

By Mark Waghorn via SWNS

The rise of robots is causing burnout and job insecurity among staff, according to new research.

Machines taking over the world are becoming an increasing reality - rather than the nightmarish plot of a sci-fi horror movie.

Now they are fueling workplace worry as Brits have already been found to be sabotaging and assaulting them.

But psychologists think that reminding ourselves of our humanity could help alleviate irrational fears about being replaced.

They involve repeating positive statements used to promote confidence and belief in your own uniquely human abilities.

It includes telling yourself things like "all I can do is my best," "I've got what it takes" and "I believe in my ability to succeed."

They help shift focus away from perceived failures or inadequacies and onto your strengths - those you already have and those you want to develop.

The study found people in the US and parts of Asia feel threatened by robots - even in industries where they aren't being used.

Lead author Professor Kai Chi Yam, a management expert at the National University of Singapore, said their worries may not be justified.

"Some economists theorize robots are more likely to take over blue-collar jobs faster than white-collar jobs," he said.

"However, it doesn't look like robots are taking over that many jobs yet, at least not in the United States, so a lot of these fears are rather subjective."

His team carried out tests and analyzed data from participants in the US, Singapore, India and Taiwan.

In one experiment, working with industrial robots fueled stress and unrest among 118 engineers employed by an auto manufacturing company in India.

An online survey of 400 participants found self-affirmation exercised reduced feelings of hopelessness.

The wrote about characteristics or values that were important to them - such as friends and family, a sense of humor or sports.

"Most people are overestimating the capabilities of robots and underestimating their own capabilities," Yam said.

Information about robot prevalence in 185 towns and cities in the US - along with use of popular job recruiting sites such as LinkedIn and Indeed - found alarm is common.

Areas with the highest numbers had the most searches - even though unemployment rates were the same.

People may have felt more job insecurity because of robots, said the researchers. But it is possible they were seeking new careers or feeling dissatisfied with their current one.

In another trial, 343 parents of Singapore students were asked to read an article about robots in business or a general or unrelated one about them.

The first group reported significantly higher levels of job insecurity than the two others, Yam said.

While some individuals may have legitimate concerns, media coverage may be unnecessarily heightening fears among the general public.

"Reports on new technologies like robots and algorithms tend to be apocalyptic in nature, so people may develop an irrational fear about them," Yam said.

Earlier this year a study identified meat packers, cleaners and builders as most at risk of being replaced by a machine. Teachers, lawyers and physicists are safe.

The Swiss team combined scientific and technical literature with employment statistics on 1,000 jobs.

Three years ago an investigation by De Montfort University in Leicester found UK workers are particularly adverse to the introduction of AI (Artificial Intelligence).

The researchers unearthed stories of employees disrupting effectiveness of robots by confusing them, standing in the way and even committing minor acts of sabotage.

On the other hand peers in Norway were embracing the challenge - often giving them affectionate names.

The latest study is in the Journal of Applied Psychology.