Permeability between Work and Non-Work: The Case of Self-Employed IT Workers

Abstract

This research deals with the spatial and temporal permeability of borders between work and non-work for self-employed IT workers. Permeability embodies the shift of working spaces and times initiated by new information and communication technologies. Self-employed IT workers are an interesting population, because they combine work independence with an intense use of new technologies. First we present their practices in terms of spatial and temporal permeability between work and non-work. Our results then lead to the identification of two groups: integrators, who prefer to intertwine work and private life, and separators, who prefer distinct segmentation and little interference between work and their private life. Our results also indicate that permeability is correlated to job characteristics and to individual characteristics such as gender and the presence of young children.