Abstract:
Flexible working arrangements have become increasingly popular practices within
the business landscape, post the COVID-19 pandemic. However, research on
integrating employees into organisations utilising these arrangements is extremely
limited. Research on integrating employees who are entering the working world for
the first time, referred to as early career employees, is even more scarce. This
research was therefore conducted, to explore how best to integrate these early
career employees into the new world of working, through flexible working
arrangements.
The study used qualitative methods to explore the integration of early career
employees into organisations utilising flexible working arrangements. A total of 17
semi-structured, in-depth online interviews were conducted. Eight interviews were
conducted with early career employees and nine interviews were conducted with
managers of early career employees, to ensure that a holistic understanding was
obtained. Interviews were analysed using a thematic analysis approach.
The study found that organisations differ greatly in the extent and types of policies
and systems implemented to integrate early career employees via flexible work
arrangements with varying outcomes. It uncovered a list of indicators of successful
integration, to provide an output towards which to work towards. The study developed
a framework on how best to integrate early career employees into organisations
utilising flexible working arrangements, outlining procedures which can be
implemented to better integrate these individuals, drivers of this integration, as well
as successful integration outcomes. The study offers theoretical, methodological and
practical implications for human resource development scholars and practitioners
motivated to improve early career employees integration into flexible working
arrangements.
