Rethinking the Autonomy-Control Paradox with the Rise of Remote Work

Working remotely has become the new normal for many groups of employees in Austria as well as in most other European countries in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, increased flexibility over both time and place of work leads to a sense of increased autonomy for employees. However, the increase of autonomy comes with paradoxical consequences: As employers grapple with the increased distance to their employees, new modes of control and surveillance emerge. This paper aims to expand existing research on the paradoxical relationship between autonomy and control in light of the forced increase of remote work. Analyses are built on the Austrian AKCovid survey and the insights of 33 semi-structured interviews in a qualitatively driven explanatory sequential mixed method design. The results of our quantitative study show that both autonomy and control are perceived to have increased when working from home more often, supporting previous findings on the ‘autonomy-control paradox’. As our qualitative interviews reveal, remote work has brought on a more independent and disconnected working style due to physical distance and communication issues with colleagues and supervisors as well as a sense of being over monitored by distrustful managers. Furthermore, a struggle to stay visible, gain recognition for achievements and keep overwhelm at bay are further fallouts of increased autonomy of remote work. While previous research emphasizes the disadvantages of managerial control, our findings reveal the supportive function of surveillance, ensuring that employees gain recognition and stay connected.