Take these steps for a smooth cobot transition, Australian researchers say

Melbourne, Australia — Employers incorporating collaborative robots in their workplace can ease the transition for employees by taking three key steps, Australian researchers say.

A team from Monash University identified worker concerns such as job insecurity and role ambiguity when cobots are introduced in workplaces.

“Workers often perceive cobots as potential threats to their job stability, especially when collaboration between humans and machines is minimal; lower collaboration may be perceived as a strategy to automate work and replace operators with machines,” study co-author Herman Tse, a business professor at Monash, said in a press release. “This perception can lead to increased stress and decreased trust in new technologies.”

The team’s recommendations:
Engage workers. Involve employees from various units in the planning and implementation stages to address concerns and gather feedback.
Enhance consultation. Provide clear communication about how cobots will affect job roles and responsibilities, and include workers in decision-making processes.
Conduct risk assessments. Develop comprehensive risk assessments to identify and address potential psychosocial hazards associated with cobots.

“By prioritizing worker engagement and consultation, organizations can ensure a smoother transition to collaborative robotics and safeguard employee well-being,” the release states.