Work has become a central identity marker in modern society, yet the conditions under which people form work-related identities are rapidly changing. As job markets grow increasingly precarious and automation and digitalization transform professional landscapes, fundamental questions arise: How do workers maintain coherent self-identities amid these shifts? How do people understand their relationship to work when their roles are increasingly mediated by technology?

These questions have guided three related research projects. The first examines self-fulfillment at work, exploring the diverse strategies workers adopt to sustain their commitment to their professions despite challenging conditions. The second investigates the shift to remote work among occupational therapists, focusing on how this transition affects their sense of professional connectivity. The third is an ethnographic study of surgeons using surgical robots, examining how automation reshapes their work experience and professional identity.