Workplace Flexibility Triggering Employee Alienation: Evidence from Mixed Method Research

Abstract

The present research builds a theory regarding how flexible work options (FWOs) affect an individual's alienation feeling. This study used a grounded theory approach to investigate the impact of FWOs like- flex-place and flex-schedule on employee outcomes of alienation by integrating the interpersonal, self-congruence, and signaling theories. Hence, based on qualitative in-depth interview data collected from the Indian IT (Information Technology) professionals (n=35), this research built a detailed research model with four factors viz. unmet interpersonal needs, infrastructure implications, individual-level constraints, and work-family impediments. These led employees to experience social isolation, powerlessness, and normlessness in the absence of interaction and support they were deprived of by not taking part in the traditional workforce. This research further validates the qualitative research findings through a quantitative empirical investigation of 235 participants who availed FWOs. The research findings also revealed a more significant impact of flex-place on employee feeling of alienation than flex-schedule.