WLP387 The Autonomy Paradox, Career Inequality in Hybrid and What Pilates Is Teaching Pilar
This episode is part of the All the World's a Workplace Expanded season.
Find out more about All the World’s a Workplace. Rediscovering remote work's humanity through Shakespeare's dilemmas here.
Pilar shares a recent article on the autonomy paradox (why autonomy can lead to non-desirable outcomes) and research on how hybrid workplaces can lead to inequality through “structural relational deprivation”. Plus, more learnings from teaching Pilates.
The Autonomy Paradox
Pilar comments on an article about how autonomy can stop some employees from recovering emotionally and cognitively during their non-work time. The article, shared by Eva Rimbau-Gilabert is “The autonomy paradox: how more freedom at work can leave you feeling powerless” September 8, 2026Eva’s Linkedin post: https://lnkd.in/p/ejGcFBQJ
Earlier research:
https://doi.org/10.13169/workorgalaboglob.10.2.0027. Oscar Pérez-Zapata, Amparo Serrano Pascual, Gloria Álvarez-Hernández, and Cecilia Castaño Collado. “Knowledge Work Intensification and Self-Management: The Autonomy Paradox.” Work Organisation, Labour & Globalisation 10, no. 2 (2016): 27–49.
BOOK RECOMMENDATION
Under New Management: How Leading Organisations Are Upending Business as Usual by David BurkusHow Hybrid Workplaces can Lead to Structural Relational Deprivation
Join Pilar as she extracts the learning points from this article on how hybrid places can lead to structural relational deprivation if not designed with (informal) equality in mind.
Structural relational deprivation is when the way work is organised consistently leaves some people with less access to the relationships that provide advice, support, learning and recognition, with consequences for their work or career.
Who gets to build useful relationships at work can depend on:Who is allowed to work remotely, and on what terms.
How working hours and time together are organised.
Who gets access to mentoring, advice and opportunities to learn.
How people’s work is assessed and recognised.
Whether people have the equipment, internet connection and space they need.
Whether people have a say in decisions about how they work.
2.5 Interlude
Eva’s endorsement of All the World’s a Workplace, which summarises one of Pilar’s messages in the book very well!
3. Pilar’s Pilates Teaching Learnings
Why Pilar opens all her Pilates classes with the same warm-up to stop unexpected events (like the one’s that took place last Saturday) from derailing her at the beginning of her class.
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