Warehouse Operators Report Higher Job Satisfaction Working with Automation: Exotec Report

Nearly half of workers (49%) report earning pay increases thanks to automation, while two in five workers agree working with automation makes it more likely to get a raise or promotion, according to Exotec’s new report “Warehouse Workers Sentiment Report: Understanding the Impact of Automation on Retention and Satisfaction.”

“The data is clear, workers believe that working alongside automation offers new potential for workers' long-term careers and immediate job satisfaction,” says Romain Moulin, Exotec CEO. “Warehouse workers quickly learn from experience that automation makes their work lives better, delivering myriad of benefits ranging from more take-home pay, significantly improved safety, to substantial productivity boosts. The new supply chain challenge isn't convincing today's workers that robots are good for their career; it's getting a new generation of workers in the door in the first place to experience it themselves.”

Key takeaways:

·        Seven in 10 warehouse workers are open to or interested in working alongside automation, while three times as many workers are attracted to working in a warehouse with automation than are put off by it (37% vs 13%).

·        Nearly two-thirds (63%) of workers report higher job satisfaction working with automation compared to manual operations.

·        98% of warehouse workers say automation makes them more productive.

·        Workers partnering with automation are more than three times as likely to stay at their job longer than leave early (36% vs 11%). Moreover, workers are nearly 3 times more likely to apply to warehouses with automation than those without (37% vs 13%).

·        Three in five automation workers report fewer workplace injuries and 59% report a decrease in physical strain on their body.

·        Seven in 10 (69%) workers find automated-assisted tasks more enjoyable.

·        Nearly half of warehouse workers (48%) are “Robooptimists” compared to less than one-third (32%) identifying as “Roboreluctant,” with the remaining 20% registering as “Roboneutrals.” Converting Robolectants to Roboptimists comes down to two factors: exposure and training. Workers who initially were suspicious of warehouse robotics found that direct experience with robots largely allayed concerns, with four in five (80%) warehouse employees reporting they didn’t oppose automated warehouses after they have experience with it. Most became comfortable with automation after initially being suspicious because they appreciated having help with difficult tasks (57%) and realized it made their job physically easier (51%), while one-third (33%) changed their tune once they discovered that it didn’t threaten job security.

·        Seven in 10 (70%) of workers agree that warehouse automation makes them less stressed during these busy periods, while one-third (32%) report fewer coworkers quitting during peak seasons since automation was introduced.