Navigating Choppy Water
Flexibility Ripple Effects in the Covid-19 Pandemic and the Future of Remote and Hybrid Working
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 7423563 |
|---|---|
| Authors | David Wheatley (0000-0002-6753-2867, University of Birmingham, corresponding author), Matthew R Broome (0000-0002-6963-8884, University of Birmingham), Tony Dobbins (0000-0003-4159-5218, University of Birmingham), Benjamin Hopkins (0000-0001-7319-5249, University of Birmingham), Owen Powell (0000-0002-6229-9912, York St John University) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 38 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 1379-1402 |
| Publication date | 2023-09-19 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Work Employment and Society (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0950-0170 • E-ISSN: 1469-8722 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/09500170231195230 |
| OpenAlex | W4386844404 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 7 |
| References cited | 42 |
This article investigates the challenges of navigating the adoption of remote and hybrid working for large organizations with diverse functions. Focus groups with employees of the UK business of a multinational organization identify conceptual contributions to the sociology of work and employment and empirical findings in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic that inform future policy and practice. Location-based flexible working has a potential unintended ‘ripple’ effect wherein application of individual-level flexibility has wider-reaching consequences throughout the organization. Findings emphasize that organizations need to recognize and respond to new realities of location-based flexibility. Management must navigate potential ‘ripples’ in the development of flexible working policies and practice, shaped by various tensions, including an overarching autonomy–control paradox. This requires a coordinated approach centred on ‘inclusive flexibility’ and ‘responsible autonomy’ that involves moving away from one-size-fits-all strategies towards a tailored approach offering employees choice, agency and voice in decision-making, while accommodating different stakeholder needs
Agency (philosophy · Autonomy · Business · Context (archaeology · Economics · Flexibility (engineering · Knowledge management · Management · Multinational corporation · Political science · Public relations · Sociology · Stakeholder · Work (physics · Computer Science · Digital Economy and Work Transformation · Emotional Labor in Professions · Engineering · Work-Family Balance Challenges
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| Unique citing works | 7 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 3,5 |
| Citation span | 2024 - 2026 (3) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 7 |