Hannah A. Berkers
Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Eindhoven University of Technology
Papers
3
Total Citations
332
H-Index
3
About
Hannah A. Berkers is a leading researcher at the intersection of technology, work design, and meaningful labor. Her primary research areas focus on how robotization transforms workplace dynamics, specifically examining whether automation threatens or enhances the meaningfulness of work. Berkers’ most influential contribution is her 2019 paper, "Robots in the Workplace: a Threat to—or Opportunity for—Meaningful Work?" which has garnered 280 citations and sparked critical philosophical and practical debates on job quality in automated environments. In her comparative case study of logistic warehouses (2022, 47 citations), she empirically demonstrated how robotization alters work design for order pickers and packers, revealing nuanced effects on task variety, autonomy, and employee well-being. Her Dutch-language work on robotization and meaningful work in distribution centers (2020) further explores these threats and opportunities, supported by the prestigious NWO research program “Working with or against the machine.” Berkers’ research is vital for students and professionals navigating the future of work, offering evidence-based insights into designing human-centric automation that preserves dignity and purpose. Her work bridges philosophy, organizational psychology, and technology studies, making her a key voice in understanding how we can work with—not against—the machine.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Robots in the Workplace: a Threat to—or Opportunity for—Meaningful Work?280 citations · 2019
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