THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WORKPLACE ROBOTS, EMPLOYEE EXHAUSTION, AND TURNOVER INTENTIONS IN THE AGE OF INDUSTRY 5.0: RESEARCH FROM FOUR SOUTHEASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Abstract

This paper examines and analyzes the relationship between workplace robots, employee emotional exhaustion, and turnover intentions within the context of Industry 5.0. Empirical research was conducted from January to May 2024. During this period, a total of 582 respondents from four Southeastern European countries (Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina) participated in the research. The proposed relationships between variables were tested by using the partial least squares method for structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM, SmartPLS software). The research results confirmed that the emotional exhaustion of employees had a positive relationship with turnover intentions, while workplace robots’ effects were negatively related to employee emotional exhaustion and turnover intentions. Leaders, managers, and human resource professionals may benefit from the findings presented in this paper, especially during the decision-making process on how to reduce the emotional exhaustion of employees by using workplace robots, which, in the end, will result in employee retention.