Abstract
Global and disruptive events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have profoundly altered traditional work dynamics, leading to major changes that may affect individuals' work-related identities and perceptions of work alienation. This work-in-progress, two-wave qualitative study explores the role of identity work in navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by the pandemic, such as work alienation and identity transformation, particularly in the context of remote work in Small and Medium Enterprises. By interviewing 16 participants during and after the pandemic, this developmental paper aims to understand how individuals, through identity work, can overcome work alienation by reframing such an experience in a positive light, thus leading to potential (positive) identity transformation. Therefore, this research seeks to enrich the discourse on work alienation and identity work, by highlighting the significance of personal agency in fostering adaptive transformations amidst disruptive circumstances.