Human-robot collaboration at work: A review of workers’ experiences and interpretations across organisational, team and individual levels

Abstract

Robotic systems are being introduced into an increasing number of workplaces, where they may influence how work is performed and experienced. Despite their growing presence, the psychological, social and ethical dimensions of human–robot collaboration remain under-explored. This review addresses this gap. It synthesises empirical studies on how workers across diverse domains experience and interpret collaboration with robots and identifies conditions that explain why experiences of human-robot collaboration differ.

Based on 44 peer-reviewed empirical studies published between 2014 and 2024, this review identified three interconnected levels through which these experiences and perceptions unfold: organisational, team and individual. At the organisational level, workers’ experiences are shaped by implementation strategies, communication practices and inclusion in decision-making processes. At the team level, robot integration is associated with changes in collaboration patterns and social interactions. At the individual level, workers navigate shifting responsibilities, emotional responses, ethical concerns and professional values.

The findings demonstrate that the impact of human-robot collaboration varies across professions, ranging from minimal disruptions to significant task and workflow transformations. Across studies, variation in experiences and interpretations of human-robot collaboration aligned with two dimensions: the degree of control workers had over robot use and the extent to which robots reshaped core tasks, highlighting implementation strategies and opportunities for participation as key conditions shaping workers'experiences of human-robot collaboration at work.