Work flexibility and identity
Work flexibility may have an impact on workers' identity. The FAME project (Vocational Identity, Flexibility and Mobility in the European Labour Market) studied this subject between 2000 and 2003. Their briefing paper number 54 is specially interesting. An excerpt: Three dominant modes of ‘strategic action’ taken by employees in forming their work-related identities have been identified: In all of the occupational groups investigated, employees were found with an affiliation towards classical types of occupational identities with a high level of identification either with their occupation, the employer, the product or the daily work tasks. For this group of employees, changes at work present a great challenge, particularly for those who do not have the means or personal resources to adjust flexibly to new demands. In this case employees typically develop a ‘retreat’ strategy by holding on to traditional forms of identification with work aim...