Analysis of remote working as a flexible working model with critical events technique

This study analyzes the transformation of work life by focusing on the experiences of individuals with remote working experience, examining the historical development, current status, and potential future impacts of remote work models. The gradual replacement of traditional working methods with more flexible and digital-based work models has generated various effects on individuals, organizations, and society. Particularly in recent years, technological advancements and global crises (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic) have made remote work an inevitable practice. Within this context, the study examines the advantages and disadvantages of remote work in detail and offers recommendations for the sustainability of this working model. The study employs the snowball sampling technique, one of the purposive sampling methods used in qualitative research. The critical incident technique is utilized to deeply explore participants' experiences related to the subject and to introduce innovative insights through this approach. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 30 participants in Denizli province, and a total of 26 codes were created from the data obtained through these interviews. Based on the identified codes, categories and themes were developed, and the findings were explained in accordance with the adopted methodology. The results of the study reveal that the sustainable implementation of remote work depends on the development of structural arrangements and solutions that enable individuals and organizations to adapt to this transformation. Among the most significant advantages of remote work are time and spatial flexibility, increased employee productivity, the achievement of work-life balance, and cost savings for organizations. However, key challenges identified within the remote work model include communication gaps, social isolation, inadequacies in technological infrastructure, and the blurring of boundaries between work and private life.