The freedom and insecurity paradox: Exploring the complex landscape of remote work experiences among early-career professionals

Abstract

The expansion of hybrid and remote work arrangements continues to reshape contemporary work, yet the experiences of early-career professionals within these contexts remain underexplored. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 16 early-career professionals working across remote and physical settings, this study examines how individuals, at the start of their careers, experience and interpret hybrid work. The findings reveal two analytically distinct yet interconnected premises: experiences of situational detachment associated with feelings of insecurity, alongside the perception of home as a refuge that affords focus and autonomy. Our analysis identifies challenges faced by early-career professionals when working remotely, particularly in sustaining relationships with their immediate managers and colleagues, interpreting expectations and accessing informal learning and developmental opportunities. Together, these findings illuminate how hybrid work simultaneously enables and constrains early-career professionals’ learning, identity formation and sense of belonging. By foregrounding the lived experiences of individuals entering professional roles, the study extends qualitative research on hybrid work and highlights the importance of social interaction, visibility and organisational support in shaping early-career development in hybrid work contexts.