The Hidden Cost of Automation: How Robot Adoption Impacts Employees' Sus-tainable Behavior and Environmental Practices

Abstract

Organizations are increasingly adopting robots, reshaping various aspects of employee behavior. This study examines the impact of robot adoption on employees' green behavior—a vital component of corporate sustainability. Grounded in Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, we propose that resource depletion or threat prompts individuals to prioritize essential tasks, reducing engagement in discretionary behaviors. We identify job stress as a mediator and openness to experience as a moderator in this relationship. Through experimental and survey studies, we find that robot adoption negatively affects employees' green behavior. Study 1 (N = 109), using experimental methods, demonstrates this negative impact. Study 2 (N = 265), conducted in the hospitality industry, further validates these findings via survey methods. Study 2 also reveals that job stress mediates the relationship between robot adoption and green behavior, while openness to experience moderates this effect. Specifically, high openness to experience weakens the positive relationship between robot adoption and job stress, thereby mitigating its negative effect on green behavior. These findings make significant theoretical contributions to the literature on robot adoption and green behavior, while also providing practical guidance for sustainable development in organizations.