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Unmasking the other face of flexible working practices: A systematic literature review

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  • Soga, Lebene Richmond
  • Bolade-Ogunfodun, Yemisi
  • Mariani, Marcello
  • Nasr, Rita
  • Laker, Benjamin

Abstract

Flexible working practice (FWP) has been acclaimed as the practice of the 21st century, and it is likely to continue as humans engage with new technologies in the world of work. Studies have signaled caution in the adoption of FWP, drawing attention to its many downsides. In this paper, we undertake an approximately 11-year systematic review (2011–mid-2021) of scholarship that has examined FWPs. We focus on the downsides and unintended consequences regarding this concept. Following the rapid growth in remote working arrangements in the digital era, we map out the intellectual structure of these studies and uncover the hidden costs of FWP as well as its implication for employees, managers of technological platforms, organizations, and society. We identify the gaps in understanding these pitfalls and propose a holistic approach with health, legal, and spatial dimensions while indicating directions for future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Soga, Lebene Richmond & Bolade-Ogunfodun, Yemisi & Mariani, Marcello & Nasr, Rita & Laker, Benjamin, 2022. "Unmasking the other face of flexible working practices: A systematic literature review," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 648-662.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:142:y:2022:i:c:p:648-662
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.01.024
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    5. Carlo Drago & Luisa Errichiello, 2024. "Remote Work admist the Covid-19 outbreak: Insights from an Ensemble Community-Based Keyword Network Analysis," Working Papers 2024.05, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
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    8. Amina Amari & Mohamed Mousa & Walid Chaouali & Zohra Ghali-Zinoubi & Narjess Aloui, 2023. "Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde? Unpacking the Effects of Flexitime and Flexiplace: a Study on MENA Region," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 1333-1352, December.
    9. Parra, Carlos M. & Gupta, Manjul & Cadden, Trevor, 2022. "Towards an understanding of remote work exhaustion: A study on the effects of individuals’ big five personality traits," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 653-662.
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    17. Jaroslaw Grobelny, 2023. "Factors Driving the Workplace Well-Being of Individuals from Co-Located, Hybrid, and Virtual Teams: The Role of Team Type as an Environmental Factor in the Job Demand–Resources Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-14, February.
    18. Yao, Qiongrui (Missy) & Baker, LaKami T. & Lohrke, Franz T., 2022. "Building and sustaining trust in remote work by platform-dependent entrepreneurs on digital labor platforms: Toward an integrative framework," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 327-339.
    19. Manisaligil, Alperen & Gölgeci, İsmail & Bakker, Arnold B. & Faruk Aysan, Ahmet & Babacan, Mehmet & Gür, Nurullah, 2023. "Understanding change in disruptive contexts: The role of the time paradox and locus of control," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
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    21. Motamarri, Saradhi & Akter, Shahriar & Hossain, Md Afnan & Dwivedi, Yogesh K, 2022. "How does remote analytics empowerment capability payoff in the emerging industrial revolution?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 1163-1174.

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