Hybrid Work Is More Than Just a New Form of Precarious Work. on the Multi-Dimensional Porosity of New Atypical Forms of Labor: The Case of the Performing Arts

The transformation of the working world has led to ambivalent work forms, such as hybrid work, which blurs traditional employment categories. Hybrid work combines self-employment and dependent employment, reflecting a fuzzy work status. While not new, its prevalence has doubled since the mid-1990s. This paper explores hybrid work in the cultural industries, focusing on agency. While some see hybrid work as a pathway to entrepreneurship, others view it as domination in an era of precarity. However, hybrid work is distinct from both precarious and entrepreneurial work, representing a unique state of insecurity with fragmented work histories. It is part of broader trends in contemporary capitalism, yet little is known about how individuals navigate it.

The paper examines how cultural workers in the performing arts are affected by hybrid work, utilizing Bourdieu’s field sociology within the sociology of work. Based on two empirical case studies in major German cities from 2019 to 2021, funded by the Boeckler Foundation, the study involved respondents from various fields of cultural production, including public theatre, independent performing arts, and lateral entrants. The research introduces a typology of hybrid work strategies: "reputation-winner," "position-defender," and "position-seeker." These strategies reflect how workers aim to improve, maintain, or establish their positions within a social field.

The study expands the understanding of hybrid work by linking it to occupational fields, showing that hybrid work is not just a new form of employment but part of ongoing transformations in work and power relations. Therefore, the findings suggest that hybrid work is not merely a response to weak economic conditions but can be a deliberate strategy for gaining reputation and financial stability. In sum, the typology sheds light on the socioeconomic and cultural dynamics of hybrid work, offering a deeper understanding of this increasingly prevalent employment model.