Taking work, or changing work? Understanding how technology adoption is reshaping work in the UK

As technology transforms the nature of work, its impact on jobs, wellbeing, and workplace relationships is profound. This report delves into how workers experience these changes, offering insights for balancing innovation with human-centered approaches.

Commissioned as part of the Pissarides Review into the Future of Work and Wellbeing – funded by the Nuffield Foundation – the report investigates how workers across diverse sectors experience technology in their daily roles and its broader impact on job quality, workplace relationships, and mental health.

Based on in-depth focus groups with 84 workers, the study highlights the divergent nature of technological change—offering greater flexibility and efficiency but also exacerbating stress, job insecurity, and social isolation.  

Through detailed worker narratives, the report explores the emotional and practical consequences of AI, robotics, and automation, emphasising the need for a more human-centred approach to the adoption of workplace technologies.

Key findings reveal how emotional responses to technology—ranging from anxiety to empowerment—shape productivity and wellbeing. The report calls for immediate action to prioritise worker needs in designing and deploying technology to foster inclusive workplaces.

Commenting on these reports, Professor Jolene Skordis, Head of the Research Department for Environmental and Community Health, UCL Institute for Global Health, said:

“Technology is profoundly reshaping our lives, both at home and at work. While change—like death and taxes—remains one of life’s few certainties, the outcomes of that change are anything but predictable. Technology has the potential to boost productivity, yet it can also heighten anxiety and the risk of burnout. It can foster a greater sense of connection while simultaneously increasing feelings of isolation. How firms choose to implement technology plays a critical role, demonstrating that we are not mere bystanders in this transformation. As these reports highlight, we actively shape both the evolution of technology and its consequences.”

Professor Phoebe Moore, Professor of Management & the Futures of Work, Essex Business School, said:  

This groundbreaking report provides crucial insights for leveraging technology’s benefits while addressing its potential negative impacts on job quality. It is a valuable resource for HR teams, management, and policymakers, offering actionable findings to guide the next phases of employment and technology governance.

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