The future of work: understanding the differential impact of physical and digital workspaces on hybrid IT workers

Purpose This study aims to examine the impact of physical and digital experience on fluid workers’ socialization, job identity and intra-organizational collaboration. Further, this study examined the impact of socialization, job identity and intra-organizational collaboration on job, life and career satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach The study followed a quantitative approach and temporal panel data collection method. The hypotheses were tested using SmartPLS 4 and survey data collected from 326 hybrid IT workers. Findings The results showed that physical work experience had a higher impact on the fluid workers’ socialization, job identity and intra-organizational collaboration than digital work experience. In addition, the study revealed that job identity had a greater impact on job satisfaction, whereas socialization and intra-organizational collaboration had a stronger influence on life satisfaction. Originality/value The study provides novel insights into the differential impact of fluid workers’ physical and digital experience on job identity, intra-organizational collaboration and feelings of socialization. As these workers are hybrid workers who have both physical and digital experience thus their job identity, intra-organizational collaboration and socialization have also a differential impact on job, life and career satisfaction. The variables under study have not been exhaustively examined in past research, especially in the context of fluid workers.