Study on the Benefits and Challenges of Autonomous Workplace Technology on Disability Rights and Labor Rights

National Disability Institute and New Disabled South

Click on the Survey Link or copy the URL below to take the survey

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/labordisabilityandtech

Project Summary

New Disabled South and National Disability Institute are working together to study how workers, especially disabled workers, are impacted by the usage of autonomous or “smart” technology in the workplace. Examples of these technologies include automated robots moving packages and software used to track worker productivity. These technologies are becoming increasingly common at large companies in the retail, warehouse, logistics and supply, delivery, and customer service sectors. We want to understand the benefits and challenges of these technologies and develop recommendations that support the well-being of workers.

What we’re doing 

  • We are learning from workers who currently or previously worked for a large company with major retail, warehouse, logistics, supply, delivery, or customer service operations through a national survey open to the U.S. and Puerto Rico. 

  • We will hold focus groups throughout different regions of the U.S. with disabled workers who currently or previously worked for a large company with major retail, warehouse, logistics, and supply, delivery, or customer service operations.

  • Community conversations in different regions of the United States with workers, local activists, staff from nonprofits that work on labor rights and disability rights issues, and policy advocates.

  • A landscape analysis of existing (or potential) national and local policies related to this topic and the impact of such policies.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why are you doing this research? What will this research be used for? 

We are conducting this research to understand the effects of autonomous technology on workers, particularly workers with disabilities. Often, discussions around autonomous technology focus on how that technology will impact a company’s bottom line or how it will impact a company’s customers. The perspective and experiences of workers, especially those with disabilities, are not often highlighted in these conversations.

The research we conduct will be used to develop a public-facing report that summarizes our findings and presents ideas and suggestions for improvements to the use of autonomous technology. The report and policy recommendations will be shared with policy advocates, researchers, and lawmakers to inform their conversations on this developing field of technology

Are you affiliated with any large retail, warehouse, logistics, supply, delivery, or customer service operation company?

National Disability Institute and New Disabled South do not have organizational ties to any companies. National Disability Institute and New Disabled South are each independent not-for-profit organizations and do not have organizational ties to any large retail company. New Disabled South and National Disability Institute’s work is independent of outside influence. National Disability Institute does receive funding support from some corporate philanthropic foundations; however, this funding does not impact National Disability Institute’s research or analysis, and National Disability Institute’s work is independent of outside influence.

What do you mean by “autonomous or smart technology”?

Autonomous technology is an umbrella term for technology that can do things without needing constant human control. For example, autonomous technology includes robots in warehouses that move packages around, chatbots on websites that help people find the information they need and drones that can travel short distances to deliver a package on their own.

Who can I contact if I have questions about the study that weren’t answered on this website?

You can contact us by sending an email to DisabilityLaborTechStudy@NewDisabledSouth.org.

Feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns you have about the study. If you require any accommodations to fully participate in our activities or events, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Your needs matter to us, and we're committed to working with you to make your participation comfortable and accessible.

Questions about National Disability Institute and New Disabled South

What is the National Disability Institute?

National Disability Institute (NDI) is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the financial stability and economic strength of people with disabilities across the country. National Disability Institute influences thinking and behavior through pioneering research, advocacy, policy development, training, and technical assistance.

What is New Disabled South?

New Disabled South (NDS) is a nonprofit organization advancing disability justice and disability rights across 14 Southern states. Our mission is to improve the lives of disabled people through research, policy change, and narrative change.

Questions about the funder of the study

Who funded this study?

The study was funded by a grant from the Ford Foundation through their Future of Work(ers) and US Disability Rights programs. This study was funded to explore how disabled workers are uniquely impacted by autonomous technology in the workplace. 

What is the Ford Foundation?

The Ford Foundation is a global, grant-making philanthropy that works to disrupt inequality in all its forms. Across eight decades, their mission has been to reduce poverty and injustice, strengthen democratic values, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. 

Questions about eligibility

Who is eligible to participate in the study?

If you live in the United States or Puerto Rico and currently or previously worked for a large company with major retail, warehouse, logistics/supply, delivery, or customer service operations, we welcome your participation in this study. We especially encourage disabled people and those with chronic conditions to participate in this study. Both direct hires and independent contractors from large companies are welcome to participate in the study. 

Who do you consider to be a disabled person or a person with disabilities? 

Disability is a spectrum that describes a wide variety of lived experiences. For the purposes of this study, disabled includes anyone with a chronic condition or disability whether or not you personally or publicly identify as disabled. Our definition of disability includes (but is not limited to) people with physical disabilities, sensory disabilities, cognitive disabilities, mental health conditions, chronic conditions, developmental disabilities, invisible disabilities, and disabilities that have not formally been diagnosed or disclosed. We believe that disability is not solely defined by medical diagnoses or physical limitations and that not everyone who falls under this definition uses the word “disability” in daily life.

Why are you focusing on disabled workers? 

For the survey and community conversations, we welcome both disabled workers and able-bodied workers to participate and share your perspectives. 

For the focus groups, we want to prioritize engaging disabled workers. This is because most of the research into autonomous technology in the workplace has not fully explored the impact of this technology on disabled workers specifically. So, it is important for us to understand if autonomous technology considers the diverse needs of disabled workers through things such as adjustable font sizes, easy-to-navigate interfaces, and compatibility with mobility devices such as wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, and more. Autonomous technologies can have unique benefits or risks for workers with disabilities, and we want to understand what is happening in the workplace now.

I am a current or former employee of a large major retail, warehouse, logistics and supply, delivery, or customer service operation company, but I’m not disabled. Can I still participate? 

Yes! If you are a current or former employee of a large company using autonomous technology in the workplace, you are welcome to participate in our study by completing the survey and/or joining one of our community conversations! We want to hear from a variety of worker perspectives to understand how technology is impacting workers like you. 

Do I have to work for a large retail, manufacturing, or customer service company right now? I used to work for one, but I have a different job now. Can I still participate?

You do not have to work for a large company right now. If you worked at a large company in the past, you are welcome to participate in our study.

If you have never worked for a large company, you are not eligible to participate in our study.

I love working at my company. Can I participate?

Yes! We welcome and encourage all perspectives and want to represent the opinions and experiences of as many workers as we can. We are interested in hearing about positive, negative, and neutral experiences with autonomous technology in the workplace. If you are a current or former employee of a large company, you are welcome to participate in our study.

I don’t work at a large company, but I am disabled. I’m interested in getting involved with National Disability Institute or New Disabled South. How can I get involved? 

For this study, we are focusing on individuals who currently or previously worked for large companies. If you have never worked for large companies, you are not eligible to participate in our study.

However, you are welcome to sign up for email updates from National Disability Institute and/or New Disabled South to stay in the loop for other opportunities to support our work.

Questions about my data and my privacy

What kind of data will you collect?

In the survey, we will collect demographic data, information about your feelings about certain technologies, and your experiences working for large companies. If you complete the survey and would like to participate in the drawing for a $400 Visa gift card, we will also collect your first name, last name, and email to contact you to verify that you are who you say you are (and not a response from a fake or bot account). If you do not feel comfortable sharing this information, you are not required to enter the drawing.

How will you use the data that you collect?

First, we will analyze the data to understand how certain technologies and practices used at large major retail, warehouse, logistics, supply, delivery, or customer service operation companies impact workers, particularly workers who are disabled and/or have other historically marginalized identities. Then, our findings from the data will be used to develop a public-facing report that will inform policy advocates, researchers, and lawmakers about how autonomous technology is impacting workers. We may also present our findings at conferences, publish them in academic journals, or share them through other appropriate channels to further the conversation on this topic. 

We are committed to handling all data with the utmost care, ensuring confidentiality and privacy throughout the process. No names or personally identifiable information will be included in our report or any other publications. If you have any concerns or questions about how your data will be used, please send us an email at DisabilityLaborTechStudy@NewDisabledSouth.org, and we'll be happy to provide further clarification.

Any identifying information such as name and email will be kept completely confidential and will not be shared or included in the published findings.

How will my data be protected?

Your data will be kept on a secure server protected by New Disabled South. Only select New Disabled South and National Disability Institute employees will be able to access this data. Any personally identifiable information you enter for the survey drawing will be kept separate from your survey responses. This adds another layer of security, so your personal information cannot be linked with any information gathered in the survey.

Immediately after the winners of the Visa gift card drawing have been chosen we will permanently delete all personally identifiable information (name, email) collected for the drawing.

All data and information we gather will be kept completely confidential and will not be shared with anyone under any circumstances.

Will my manager find out if I participate? 

We will not inform your manager or anyone else of your involvement in this study. Your participation in this study will be kept confidential. We value your participation and trust in our study.

Do I have to get permission from my manager to participate?

No, you do not need anyone’s permission to participate in any aspect of this study. If you want to participate, you are welcome to do so.

Can I tell my manager about this study or that I’m participating in it? 

It is up to you whether you tell your manager about this study. If you do not feel comfortable talking about this study with your manager(s) or other coworkers, you do not have to talk about it. However, if you have coworkers you trust and think would like to participate, we encourage you to tell them how to also be a part of the study.

Questions about the survey

Why should I complete the survey?

As a worker for a large major retail, warehouse, logistics and supply, delivery, or customer service operation company, you likely have direct experience interacting with autonomous technologies, so we want to learn about your experiences directly. Our survey will help us to understand both the individual experiences that people share and identify common trends across different warehouses, stores, and offices. The data from the survey will be crucial for developing our report that will inform policy advocates and lawmakers about how autonomous technology is impacting your job and your well-being.

Do I have to live in a certain area to participate in the survey?

Participation in the survey is open to anyone living anywhere in the United States and Puerto Rico who currently or previously worked for a large major retail, warehouse, logistics, supply, delivery, or customer service operation company.

How can I participate in the raffle drawing?

To enter the raffle drawing to win a $400 Visa gift card, you must first complete our online survey by August 30, 2024. On the final page of the survey, there is a question that asks if you want to enter a drawing for a $400 Visa gift card. You must answer “Yes, I’m interested” to that question AND you must provide your email address on that same page to enter the drawing. When we close the survey on August 30, 2024, all participants who answered “Yes, I’m interested” and provided their information will be entered into the random drawing to win a Visa gift card. Five winners will be selected, and we will reach out to those participants via the email address provided in the survey.

Do I have to participate in the raffle drawing to complete the survey?

You do not have to participate in the raffle drawing to complete the survey. 

Questions about focus groups and community conversations

What’s the difference between the focus groups and the community conversations? 

They are both types of group discussions, but they serve different purposes and have distinct formats. A focus group is a small group of people who meet specific eligibility requirements engaging in a structured discussion led by a moderator. During the focus group, our team will be recording data, opinions, and insights. 

A community conversation is a chance for the broader community to participate in a discussion about the use of automated technology at work, its impact on employees, and especially how disabled workers are affected by its use. Participation in a community conversation is open to a broader audience and we encourage you to bring other members of your community with you to make their voices heard on this topic. 

Who gets selected to participate in a focus group & how? 

The focus groups are focused on learning from current and past workers from large retail, shipping, logistics, supply, and customer service companies. In addition, since our research focuses on the unique impact technology has on disabled and chronically ill workers, we will prioritize participants who identify as disabled and/or chronically ill in their interest form. However, you do not have to identify as disabled and/or chronically ill to participate in our focus groups.

To participate in the in-person focus groups, you must live in the area where it is taking place. There will only be one opportunity to participate in each in-person focus group so if that date and time do not work for you, you will unfortunately not be able to participate in the focus group

We appreciate everyone interested in this research and being a part of this study. Your voice, experience, and opinions matter and we encourage everyone to participate in our research through our survey, which is open to any current or past workers, both disabled and non-disabled, from large retail, shipping, logistics, supply, and customer service companies in the US.

Why should I participate in the focus group?

As a worker for a large company, you have direct experience interacting with autonomous technologies, so we want to learn about your experiences directly. The focus group will gather workers at large companies with major retail, warehouse, logistics and supply, delivery, or customer service operations, and will open a discussion on the benefits and challenges that autonomous technology at work presents. These conversations will help our team understand where workers’ needs are being met and where there is room to improve. This in turn will help us develop our report that will inform policy advocates and lawmakers how autonomous technology is impacting your job and your well-being. 

Why should I participate in the community conversation?

As a worker for a large company, you have direct experience interacting with autonomous technologies, so we want to learn about your experiences directly. These community conversations will be an open discussion between workers and community stakeholders on the benefits and challenges that autonomous technology at work presents. We will also open the floor for workers to share what changes you wish to see in how autonomous technology is used. These conversations will help our team understand where employee’s needs are being met and where there is room to improve.

Do I have to live in a certain area to participate in the focus group or community conversation? 

For each focus group and community conversation, we will specify if participation is limited to workers who live in particular cities or regions, or if participation is open to workers who live anywhere in the United States, or Puerto Rico. If you have questions about eligibility for a specific focus group or Town Hall, please send us an email at DisabilityLaborTechStudy@NewDisabledSouth.org.

Can I bring my family, friends, caregiver, or service animal to the focus group or community conversation? 

If you are participating in a focus group, if you want or need support during the conversation, you are welcome to bring a caregiver. However, we ask that when possible, all caregivers remain outside the room while the focus group is being conducted.

For the community conversations, you're more than welcome to bring your family, friends, and/or caregivers. We understand that some individuals may need assistance with transportation and/or navigating the space where we host the focus group or community conversation. We also recognize that bringing someone you know can make the experience more comfortable.

Service animals are welcome to accompany their handlers in our focus groups and community conversations. If you have any questions or need further assistance regarding accommodations, please send us an email at DisabilityLaborTechStudy@NewDisabledSouth.org.

Can I complete the survey and also participate in a focus group or community conversation?

Yes! If you complete the survey, you are more than welcome to attend one or more of our Town Hall events and can submit an interest form to take part in one of our focus groups. Please note that not everyone who completes an interest form will be chosen to participate in our focus groups. 

What do I get for participating in the focus group? 

If you are chosen to participate in the focus group, you will receive a $100 Visa gift card after completion of the focus group. If you do not wish to receive the gift card, you are not required to take it.

Questions from partner organizations

Why should my organization work with NDS and NDI on this? 

Both New Disabled South and National Disability Institute are rooted in the principles of disability justice, and our combined team has years of extensive experience conducting research, policy work, and grassroots organizing within the disability and workers' rights spaces. 

We know that we are not the only ones doing work on this topic and that many organizations have been doing incredible organizing around this issue. Like many of you, our goal is to ensure that workers’ (and especially disabled workers’) voices are central to policymaking and discussions of automated technology in workplaces. We are stronger together so the more collaboration we can have, the better for all of us and our communities as we imagine what the future of work will be.