CfP: EGOS Sub-Theme 21 – Overwork, Identity and the Autonomy/Control Paradox in Professional Organizations

The 34th EGOS Colloquium takes place from July 5th-8th 2018 in Tallinn. The above mentioned sub-theme invites researchers who study the relationship between identity, autonomy, and overwork in professional service organizations.

Professionals have traditionally been theorized as enjoying higher levels of autonomy regarding the where, when and how of work. Yet, research also reveals that most professional workplaces are characterized by a persistent, autonomy-reducing regime of excessive working hours (60–120 hours/week) and escalating availability to clients and superiors. Even when firms try to alleviate extra-long hours regimes by promoting work-life balance and flexible work arrangements, overwork usually persists. This sub-theme seeks to advance current knowledge of the totalizing nature of professional work. It invites empirical and theoretical papers.

Convenors: Blagoy Blagoev, Freie Universität Berlin; Laura Empson, Cass Business School; Renate Ortlieb, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz

Deadline for the submission of short papers: 08.01.2018

Further information