Flexible Work, Flexible Selves? The Impact of Changing Work Practices on Identity

We have become fascinated by the impetus to change. Organizations seek to restructure, delayer, and blur boundaries. Government policy exhorts us to move to a knowledge-based economy in the interests of national competitiveness. In the rush to remake organizations and economies, what impacts might such changes have on ourselves? This chapter seeks to engage in debates about the creation of, and consequences for, employee identity in relation to new forms of work and organization. Identity is a focus that resonates with both employers and employees. Employers hope for staff who will identify with the organization and, it is thought, be more committed, motivated and ultimately perform at a higher level. For employees, what you do, where you work, and under what conditions can be a defi ning feature of your identity.