Abstract
This study investigates the influence of Industry 4.0 technology on work engagement through the lens of the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory, aiming to mitigate technostress. The primary objective is to explore how advanced technology affects work engagement and to develop a model that addresses potential negative impacts such as technostress and techno-addiction. Utilizing a sample of 339 employees from rated hotels in South Africa, data were collected through physical and online questionnaires. The study employed Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the relationships between technology use and work engagement. Results indicate a significant positive effect of technology on work engagement (path coefficient=0.356, t=8.140 p<0.01), suggesting that Industry 4.0 technologies enhance employee vigor, dedication, and absorption by providing greater work flexibility and autonomy. These findings challenges existing literature, which often highlights the negative consequences of technology on work engagement. The study contributes to the understanding of how to harness Industry 4.0 technology to improve employee well-being and offers practical recommendations for effectively integrating such technologies in organizations.