Sharing the Office, Sharing the Care? Designing for Digitally-mediated Collaborative Childcare in the Workplace

This paper presents findings from a participatory design process for a collaborative childcare service based on co-worker participation and supported by a digital sharing platform. We conducted semi-structured interviews, focus groups and co-design workshops with 41 employees and HR managers of six knowledge organizations. We investigated their views on participative forms of welfare, the factors that can sustain or hinder collaboration among co-workers and the role technology can play in sustaining these practices. The findings shed light on perceived values and potential barriers of social and organizational arrangements as well as the mediating role of interpersonal trust, social exchange and reciprocity. Furthermore, the results provide insights on how digital platforms can support orchestration and management of collaborative practices grounded on employee participation and on the interplay between work and family life spheres.