Hybrid work in the public sector: practical insights on organizational support

Purpose This study explores how Indonesia’s State Civil Apparatus (ASN) interprets and constructs the meaning of hybrid work, emphasizing its symbolic, intersubjective and contextual dimensions rather than focusing solely on productivity or policy outcomes. Design/methodology/approach Guided by Schutz’s social phenomenology and enriched with the perceived organizational support framework and the job demands–resources model, this qualitative research involved ten ASN across multiple government institutions. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, participatory observation and document analysis. Thematic analysis was conducted using ATLAS.ti to reveal both phenomenological depth and interpretive patterns. Findings The study identified four interrelated themes: (1) perceptions of flexibility and autonomy in hybrid arrangements, (2) dissonance between symbolic and material forms of organizational support, (3) the erosion of work–life boundaries and (4) challenges in coordination across bureaucratic levels. Organizational support is not merely understood as formal policy but is socially constructed through shared meanings, institutional rhythms and expectations. Originality/value This study offers a novel reframing of hybrid work as a socially embedded experience in the public sector. It contributes theoretical insight by repositioning support and well-being as co-constructed meanings. Practically, the study guides the design of hybrid work policies that align structural provisions with the lived realities of civil servants.