Flexible Working Arrangements and New Proximity Dynamics

Technological developments, globalization and the COVID-19 pandemic have accelerated changes in the way people perform their work from a spatial and temporal point of view, while introducing new and more flexible working arrangements which affect the usual idea of proximity. These forms of work can be performed at the first place (home), second place (office), and third place (e.g., collaborative and coworking spaces). This chapter explains flexible working arrangement typologies (remote working, hybrid working and digital nomadism) that have become more and more common in the past few years. Their effects are reviewed as reported in the literature at micro, meso, and macro levels. Despite a generally positive narrative associated with the broad adoption of such flexible arrangements, they bring also negative impacts on individuals, organizations and territories. Eventually, the chapter discusses whether and how near-working strategies might mitigate the dangers and enhance the opportunities associated with the new proximity dynamics made possible by flexible working arrangements.