BRIGHT AND DARK SIDES OF HYBRID WORK MODELS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR: A SOCIAL SYMBOLIC PERSPECTIVE FROM THE ITALIAN CONTEXT

Ongoing academic debates explore how institutional theory can address the social changes and megatrends shaping our societies. One prominent trend is the rise of hybrid work models, especially after the pandemic, with studies examining their benefits and challenges. These studies highlight how public and private organizations, supported by technological and scientific advances, shape individuals’ experiences and perceptions of work and society. Adopting a socio-symbolic perspective offers valuable insights into how institutions—and the public organizations within them—constitute a meaningful context for understanding the opportunities and challenges of hybrid work, along with its socio-symbolic implications. This perspective allows us to see how institutions influence the collective interpretation of hybrid work, mediating its effects on individuals and society. The aim of this study is to examine how the socio-symbolic perspective can support the role of institutions, particularly the public sector and policymakers, in navigating ongoing social changes in the context of hybrid working.