The New Work Revolution: Telecommuting, and Flexibility Rewrite the Rules

Year 2024, , 111 - 123, 30.09.2024

Ayşe Aslı Yılmaz

https://doi.org/10.30520/tjsosci.1544537

Abstract

The rapid transformation of workplace dynamics, driven by technological advancements and evolving workforce expectations, has been significantly accelerated by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Telecommuting and workplace flexibility have emerged as critical trends, reshaped traditional organizational structures and influenced employee experiences. This paper explores the intersection of these trends with technological innovations, assessing their implications for organizational success and sustainability. Through a comprehensive analysis of 261 academic publications sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection, this study employs both trend analysis and sentiment analysis to examine the evolving discourse on telecommuting and flexibility. The trend analysis reveals the increasing adoption and prominence of these models in scholarly research, highlighting key moments of growth and decline in publication activity. Sentiment analysis further elucidates the prevailing attitudes towards these trends, uncovering both optimistic perspectives—emphasizing benefits such as enhanced productivity, employee well-being, and work-life balance—and critical views that focus on challenges, including professional isolation, technological dependence, and the erosion of organizational cohesion. The findings demonstrate the dual role of technology as both an enabler and barrier to the successful implementation of flexible work models. The study concludes by discussing the long-term implications of these trends for leadership, organizational culture, and future research, emphasizing the need for holistic strategies that address both the opportunities and challenges posed by telecommuting and workplace flexibility.

Keywords

Telecommuting, Workplace Flexibility, Technological Innovation, Organizational Dynamics

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