FLEXIBLE WORK ARRANGEMENTS: TECHNOLOGY ENABLING EMERGING POPULATIONS OF MILLENNIALS AND BABY BOOMERS

Abstract

The official standard of a 40-hour work week has not changed for decades in the United States. A flexible work arrangement (a.k.a. telework, flexible schedule or telecommuting) is an alternative to the traditional 9am to 5pm, 40+hours work week in office. In truth, the working environment has changed as employees are expected to work more than 40 hours per week and must be accessible around the clock on weekends and after the end of the workday. Millennials and Baby Boomers (called the emerging populations) are pushing the agenda on flexible work arrangements and getting more flexible schedules. Technology makes this all possible. Millennials are described as the always-connected-to-the-internet generation (Choney, 2012), while any new technological process requires significant instruction and training, and presents a challenge for older workers (Charness, 2006). This grounded theory research (Glaser and Strauss, 1999) informs and updates academics, practitioners, companies, and employees on how technology is enabling flexible working arrangements (referred to as FWA) for the emerging populations. The paper draws on both unstructured interviews and a survey with key informants across age ranges who are business owners, corporate workers, and employees. It explores the tools that are critical to connecting to the office, the advantages and disadvantages of working outside the office, and gives guidelines for employers and workers to utilize when creating a best-in-class flexible environment. Keywords: flexible work arrangement, flexible schedule, millennials, baby boomers, telecommuting, work-life conflict, technology, best practices, emerging populations