Enhancing Workability and Work Inclusion Through Hybrid Work – A Qualitative Study of Norwegian Employees

Early retirement due to work disability and health-related absences is a growing concern in most countries today. Using the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model as a theoretical point of departure, this article investigates how hybrid work impacts employees’ workability. Data comprises interviews with 59 hybrid workers from the Norlife Remote Work – Qualitative Study (NorRemo-QS), in five Norwegian organizations where working arrangements underwent significant changes during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings show that working from home can enhance employees’ work-life balance, well-being, motivation and job satisfaction by providing new resources. Hybrid work lowers the threshold to work despite health or life phase challenges. Simultaneously, the boundaries between health and illness are blurred; the flexibility in hybrid work has raised the ability but also the expectations of employees to be available for work – even when they are ill. The findings underscore the potential for hybrid work to enhance workability, while noting emerging challenges for policymakers, unions, employers, human resource management and future research.