Homeworkers' usage of mobile phones; social isolation in the home‐workplace

Purpose – When working remotely, homeworkers are provided with various technologies which may help them to avoid experiencing feelings of social isolation from colleagues. These include the mobile phone, which provides homeworkers with the means of engaging in interaction with colleagues irrespective of time and location. This paper aims to investigate how the mobile phone is used by homeworkers for social interaction purposes. Design/methodology/approach – Data are collected from 25 respondents working in a telecommunications organisation using in‐depth, semi‐structured interviews. Findings – Upon analysis, it emerges that a significant number of respondents use their mobile phone for retaining social interaction with colleagues outside of their designated work time and space. It also emerges that certain organisational factors help to explain why interaction is maintained in this way. Practical implications – Implications for organisations employing homeworking are also presented, together with how the limitations of the paper can be overcome in future research. Originality/value – The results challenge the common assertions concerning social isolation made within homeworking literature; these are discussed within the paper, which also addresses how the findings of this paper aim to aid, as well as to direct, theoretical progression within this area.