Integrating early career employees into organisations utilising flexible working arrangements

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.