The evolution of flexible working patterns

Abstract

Flexibility in organisations has emerged as a dominant discourse in recent decades, spawning multiple forms of new working arrangements loosely grouped under the term flexible working. This chapter is concerned with examining these various working arrangements. It looks first at their emergence and the factors that have influenced their development and growth. The discussion then moves to explore the evidence in relation to the outcomes of these working arrangements for individual workers and assesses more generally the consequences of these developments. Importantly, the use of some of these arrangements, most notably remote working, has been shaped in a major way by experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic. This will be considered and the implications for future working patterns discussed.