The Young and the Restless: Remote Work Environments and Emerging Adults

Abstract

The labour market in Ottawa has a heavy presence of government roles at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels. Ottawa is a business hub for organizations and private practices that work with or in conjunction to government offices. As such, office work environments are prevalent in Canada's capital, and there is culture that encourages young graduates and labour-market entrants to seek office work for the security it offers. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the labour market in Canada and resulted in the implementation of a remote-work directive, as well as the creation of new jobs in fields that were largely remote. This thesis critically examines how the shift to remote work impacted office workers in the emerging adulthood stage of life and tries to understand ways that 'youth' as an identity category is embodied through their experiences. I argue that emerging adults that work in offices through the remote and hybrid work environment have had to become technical and professional mentors to their colleagues, while experiencing a disruption in skill development necessary for professional growth. I further show the implications of these experiences on the subjectivities of these young employees by engaging in formal and informal dialogue with them.