Flexibility stigma: negative perceptions against flexible workers

Heejung Chung

Chapter 11 in A Research Agenda for Flexible Working Arrangements, 2025, pp 169-184 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Despite the rise in flexible working practices across the world, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, stigmatised views against flexible workers are still prevalent. This chapter examines what this flexibility stigma is, why such views exist, and provides an overview of the prevalence of this stigma. The chapter shows how there are gender differences in whose flexible working is stigmatised more, which relates not only to our work cultures but also to societal gender norms. Contextual factors are also examined to show how stigmatised views around flexible working are more likely to be present under certain conditions, including policy, institutional contexts such as family policy generosity, and industrial relations. Finally, it proposes some future research agendas in this area, which can not only help us better understand why such stigmatised views exist, but can also help ensure that flexible working does not lead to negative outcomes for workers or companies.

Keywords: Flexibility stigma; Working from home; Flexible schedule; Career outcomes; Gender; Inequality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035317615
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