Together with Prof. Lucia Lanfranconi and a group of researchers at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences, we are exploring the challenges and opportunities of flexible working conditions in a (post-)pandemic society for employers, employees and their relatives alike (Funding: ITC Digitale Transformation der Arbeitswelt, HSLU; Tremplin grant, UNIL).
Covid-19 has had a significant impact on work organizations, with many employers forced to quickly adapt working conditions and implement innovative solutions such as digital collaboration and remote working. Additionally, employers have implemented measures to support employees with caring responsibilities, such as in-house daycare or time off for caregivers in lockdown or quarantine. While these measures have the potential to create more family-friendly working conditions and contribute to greater gender equality, there are also potential negative effects such as work encroaching on family life and creating new inequalities within organizations, for instance between those who can work remotely and those who cannot.
Our research aims to shed light on these social innovations by systematically exploring the potential of Covid-related measures implemented in a selected public administration. We will be using a combination of secondary data analysis and in-depth qualitative research methods, including focus groups and interviews.
See the conference “New Work, New Problems” – Gender Perspectives on the transformation of work” which we are organizing together with the Gender Studies Research Committee from the Swiss Sociological Association.