Organizational socialization of remote employees in coworking spaces: Challenges and issues for human resource management[La socialisation organisationnelle des salariés télétravailleurs en espace de coworking : défis et enjeux pour la GRH]

Remote working in a coworking space is a specific form of remote work organization: Work is carried out in a professional setting alternative to the company, rather than in the employee's home. By introducing a new social environment, this practice disrupts the organizational socialization process of employees. This study demonstrates how employees working remotely in coworking spaces build their organizational socialization based on information related to three domains of socialization: the task, the team, and the organization. Based on an abductive analysis of interviews conducted during an organizational ethnography in coworking spaces, we identify a double process of organizational socialization leading employees to simultaneously learn two roles—that of employee and that of coworker. This socialization of the employee-coworker transforms HRM practices. This research contributes to the literature on organizational socialization by identifying a space and socializing agents external to the company. It also contributes to research on the re-spatialization of work in coworking spaces. From a managerial perspective, we offer recommendations for HRM practices in both companies and coworking spaces in light of the tensions identified.