Alternative Work Arrangements: Understanding the Experience of the Modern Worker

Abstract

In recent years, technological advancements have fundamentally changed how, when, and where individuals work. An increasing number of modern workers have jobs outside of the 9-to-5 traditional work arrangement and instead seek work through alternative work arrangements, such as gig work or multiple jobholding. This trend has accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic and will likely continue due to the benefits inherent in these alternative work arrangements such as increased income and flexibility. This symposium focuses on both the benefits and challenges of alternative work arrangements. Throughout this proposed symposium, we elaborate on the experiences of workers with alternative work arrangements face. More specifically, the papers in the symposium focus on the work identities and relational strategies of the modern worker, the status inconsistencies between the types of work they perform, the freedom they receive from the alternative work arrangements, and whether or not they disclose their alternative forms of work and how their alternative work arrangements impact important work outcomes. Thus, each paper offers insights into what the future of work will look like and what organizations and managers should consider to successfully retain talent and cooperate with new types of workers. With this symposium, we see the potential to bridge the perspectives of organizations and individual workers so that both parties can benefit from these new types of work arrangements. A Comparison of the Relational Challenges of Organizational Workers Versus Gig Workers. Presenter: Elizabeth Nguyen Trinh; U. of Michigan, Ross School of Business Presenter: Brittany Lambert; Indiana U. - Kelley School of Business Presenter: Brianna Barker Caza; U. of North Carolina at Greensboro Presenter: Susan J. Ashford; U. of Michigan Is Multiple Jobholding Depleting or Enriching? Presenter: Sherry E. Moss; Wake Forest U. Presenter: Brianna Barker Caza; U. of North Carolina at Greensboro Presenter: Arran Caza; U. of North Carolina, Greensboro The Effects of Psychological Reactance on Side-hustlers’ Daily Hostility and Initiative Presenter: Hudson Sessions; Southern Methodist U. Presenter: Michael Baer; Arizona State U. Presenter: Jennifer Nahrgang; U. of Iowa A Self-Regulation Perspective on How Adult Content Creators Achieve Multiple Job Coherence Presenter: Emily D. Campion; U. of Iowa Presenter: Kathleen Keeler; Ohio State U. Do You Want to Know a Secret? Disclosure and Concealment of Multiple Job Holding Presenter: Sujin Jeong; U. of Iowa Presenter: Jennifer Nahrgang; U. of Iowa