824: Flexible Working in a Post-Pandemic World: Clarifying Concepts and Insights for the Future (15485)

Sunday, August 11, 2024

13:15 – 14:45 CT (GMT-5/UTC-5)

Location: Hyatt: Michigan 2

Session Number: 824
Symposium (panel)
Orientation: Practice,International,Theme,Research,Diversity
Showcase Symposium
Shareable link: https://cdmcd.co/raqpkP

Organizer(s)

EK

Ellen Ernst Kossek

Purdue U., United States

Panelist(s)

EK

Ellen Ernst Kossek

Purdue U., United States
NH

N. Sharon Hill

George Washington U., United States

Organizer(s)

NH

N. Sharon Hill

George Washington U., United States

Moderator(s)

LB

Lauryn Burnett

George Washington U., United States

Organizer(s)

LB

Lauryn Burnett

George Washington U., United States

Panelist(s)

CK

Clare Kelliher

Cranfield U., United Kingdom
AB

Alexandra Beauregard

Birkbeck, U. of London, United Kingdom
MA

Maria Adamson

Queen Mary U. of London

Organizational interest in flexible working (e.g., remote, hybrid, part-time work; flextime) as a mainstream employment and organizational workforce strategy has increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet many questions remain for research and practice on the future of flexible working and what it will look like in a post-pandemic world, which this panel seeks to address. This symposium brings together a panel of experts for an interactive discussion on the future of flexibility. First, it is unclear whether increased employee access to flexible working is a long-term shift in the employment relationship or a temporary employer response to a crisis, as many employers have begun to pull back on flexibility. Second, the implications of flexibility for inequality regarding opportunities for access and the potential stigma and unintended career consequences for use are concerning. Third, we lack understanding of employment institutional contexts regarding flexibility responses vary widely across countries. For example, some nations, such as the U.K., have taken a more activist approach than in the U.S. by adopting laws and public policy initiatives supporting flexible working and offering incentives to employers to not to lay off employees. Fourth, there remains ambiguity around the theory and measurement of flexibility and hybrid working concepts. Finally, there is also a lack of clarity on how to evaluate its dual agenda benefits for employers and employees, which is critical for advancing future research. The panel discussion will address these issues. The symposium’s topic aligns with the AOM (2024) theme of “Innovating for the Future” because workplace flexibility is of importance to scholars and practitioners as they rethink traditional ways of managing and organizing.