The Relationship between Workplace Flexibility and AI Adoption and Employee Stress: The Mediating Effect of Job Autonomy.

Abstract

The objective of this study is to assess how workplace flexibility and adoption of AI
affect the stress of the employees. Further, the great influence of job autonomy as a mediator
also was explored. The research design is a quantitative research design, which analyzes the
collected information of the professionals working in the ICT sector in Pakistan. The theoretical base of the discussion of the connection between the variables is the Job Demands Resources (JD -R) model. The findings indicate that the adoption of AI and workplace flexibility
enhance job autonomy to a large extent that, in its turn, leads to the decrease in the employee
stress levels. These results underscore the primary importance of job autonomy in promoting
a healthier and more helpful work setting. The research is restricted to the professionals of the
ICT sector in Pakistan and this could limit the generalizability of the results. The future studies
must take into consideration cross-industry and cross-cultural comparisons and longitudinal
studies to have a more thorough look at the long-term impacts of AI adoption and flexibility
on the employee well-being. The research can provide useful guidance to HR professionals, organizational executives and policymakers by showing how AI and flexibility in the workplace
might be effectively integrated to enhance employee autonomy and well-being. These lessons
offer a guide to developing new and sustainable HR practices in the changing workplace environments. In this study, the researcher has highlighted the need to design work systems that
develop job autonomy. The study provides effective solutions to developing resilient, flexible,
and healthier workplaces by combining AI technologies with flexible workplaces.