Flexible Work and Personal Digital Infrastructures

FLEXIBLE, CONTINGENT, OR 'agile,' working arrangements provide workers with greater autonomy over when, where, or how to fulfill their responsibilities. In search of increased productivity and reduced absenteeism, organizations have increasingly turned to flexible work arrangements. Although access to flexible work arrangements is more prevalent among high-skilled workers, in the form of flextime or co-working, the past decade has also witnessed growth of independent contractors, digital nomadism, digitally enabled crowdwork, online freelancing, and on-demand platform labor.(3) Flexible work arrangements reduce commutes and can enable workers with care-responsibilities to stay in the workforce. Younger workers also see flexibility as a top priority when considering career opportunities.(2)

Automated summary

Flexible working arrangements provide workers with greater autonomy and have been increasingly adopted by organizations for increased productivity and reduced absenteeism. These arrangements, such as flextime and co-working, are more common among high-skilled workers, but there has also been growth in independent contractors, digital nomads, online freelancers, and on-demand platform labor over the past decade.