Flexworker - motives, opportunities and challenges

There are many reasons why people choose flexible forms of work. The high level of flexibility offers many possibilities, but also requires personal responsibility. This is shown in a study by Dr. Lea Rutishauser and Dr. Anja Feierabend on motives, opportunities and challenges of flexworkers.

One aspect of flexworking: coworking workstations (icon image)

Digitization, automation, globalization and virtualization are changing how we work. Since several years flexible and temporary forms of employment (e.g. temporary work, fixed-term contracts, self-employment, work on demand) are increasing. At the same time, due to increasing flexibility, the boundaries between work, people and companies as employers are disappearing. In such flexible labor markets, little attention has been given to the new needs which arise on the individual level.

 

In a research collaboration of the Center for Human Resource Management (CEHRM) at the University of Lucerne, HR ConScience and Swissstaffing, we did qualitative interviews with 31 Flexworkers and analyzed their motives, as well as the opportunities and challenges of flexwork.