How Robotic Process Automation Helps Employees Attain Work-Life Balance

Abstract

This study explores how Robotic Process Automation (RPA) enhances life satisfaction (LS) for lower-level employees by automating repetitive tasks in business processes like expense management and customer relationship management. By freeing employees from mundane tasks, RPA allows them to engage in more creative work, potentially improving work-life balance (WLB) and overall well-being. The paper reviews the literature on WLB and RPA perceptions across different demographics, identifying a research gap in how RPA's impact on LS varies with factors like age, gender, and culture. It utilizes Nam’s (2014) theory of work-life balance and Shao & Li’s (2022) extended adaptive structuration theory, which examines adaptation to technology through the interplay of technology, individual characteristics, and job features. By proposing a conceptual model that links job eustress and perceived workload with LS through RPA, the research aims to offer insights into tailoring RPA implementations to diverse employee demographics to maximize LS leading WLB.