Research & Insights for Workplace Wellbeing

Explore open-access research and evidence, expert insights, and practical frameworks, carefully curated and summarised, with clear takeaways to support confident, informed decision-making across the workplace wellbeing industry.

1 Result

1

Employee Wellbeing: A Computational Review on the Consequences of Workplace Automation

Alena Valtonen, Jaan-Pauli Kimpimäki, Nina Savela

Technovation

2025 November

DOI: 10.1016/j.technovation.2025.103424

Elsevier Ltd.

Licence Label: CC BY 4.0

This computational review brings together a wide body of research to understand how workplace automation affects employee wellbeing. It shows that automation creates both benefits and risks by changing job demands and available support. While it can improve efficiency, safety, and access to information, it often increases cognitive load, reduces autonomy, and alters workplace relationships. The findings highlight that automation currently tends to introduce more demands than resources, particularly impacting mental and relational wellbeing. Overall, the study reinforces that how automation is designed and implemented is critical to whether it supports or undermines employee wellbeing.

This research highlights that automation is not neutral,  it actively reshapes the conditions that drive wellbeing at work.

  • Automation introduces both benefits and new sources of strain
  • In many cases, demands increase faster than support mechanisms
  • Mental and relational wellbeing are most at risk in automated environments
  • Efficiency gains do not automatically translate into better employee experience
  • Job design and implementation determine whether automation helps or harms wellbeing
  • Increased cognitive load and reduced autonomy are key risks
  • Social connection and workplace relationships can be negatively affected
  • Wellbeing needs to be actively designed into technological change

© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. The original work remains the intellectual property of the authors and publisher. Commentary by The Well Crowd. © The Well Crowd Ltd. 2026. All rights reserved. This content provides a summary and independent commentary on the original research and does not reproduce the original publication. It is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional or medical advice. No part of this content may be reproduced or distributed without prior written permission.

Back to top

The List, your Trusted Workplace Wellbeing Directory

A curated community where People Leaders find trusted Workplace Wellbeing providers, and providers find meaningful business.
Access The List Join The List