Flexible Career opportunities and inclusion via empowerment through remote work

Activity: Talk or presentation › Science to science

Description

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, remote work has become an integral part of the discussion about new work. The advantages of a flexible workplace design can be found not only in the organization, but also at the individual level. The career opportunities and possibilities for inclusion at a personal level are presented through a case study on remote work for general staff in a university. Universities are characterized by structural change, which has a particular impact on general staff as well. This includes recruitment and retention of highly qualified staff in all administrative departments. Remote work offers an opportunity for universities to present themselves as an attractive employer and at the same time to retain staff. For employees, the flexibilization of working time and place of work opens completely new opportunities to shape their careers. The study presented is integrated into a specific, less studied social field, the administration in the academic field. This theoretical framework is characterized by a high potential for conflict between administrative actions and scientific requirements, which explain a subject-specific habitus. Based on a qualitative and quantitative study, we show that minorities are more included and that cultural, social, and especially economic capital can be built up through remote work, and that leadership positions can be reached. In a first step, forty-three employees were surveyed at the end of 2020, who spoke about their experiences of remote work in problem-centered interviews. A special aspect here is that the sample already had experience with home offices before the Covid-19 pandemic. They were part of a selected pool of employees evaluating the implementation of remote work in the organization under consideration as part of a pilot study. The analysis was based on grounded theory. One aspect of the analysis is the focus on careers, specifically career opportunities and career obstacles at organizational, team and individual levels. The results of the interviews were incorporated into an organization-wide questionnaire that was sent out at the end of 2022. A total of 424 employees answered the questionnaire in full, which corresponds to 50 percent of the employees. The results of the qualitative survey show empowerment through the self-organization of work. An essential point is the accumulation of economic and cultural capital. Remote work enables disabled employees, persons with caring responsibilities and individuals with qualifications to participate in social processes. Remote work also offers the opportunity for women with caring responsibilities to take on a leadership position. The questionnaire asked what respondents associate with career. Independence and self-fulfillment were named as the most important points, followed by financial incentives and the acquisition of skills and knowledge. This confirmed the findings from the qualitative study, which particularly highlighted the opportunity for empowerment for all employee groups through remote work.
Period18 Apr 2024
Event titleCareers Division Community Conference 2024: AoM Careers Division
Event typeConference
LocationAmsterdam, NetherlandsShow on map
Degree of RecognitionInternational

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