Abstract for: Remote Control: Hybrid Work, Digital Gatekeeping, and Systemic Power Shifts

Hybrid work has transformed power structures within organizations, shifting authority from traditional hierarchies to digital gatekeepers. Video conferencing, surveillance tools, and visibility biases influence who holds decision-making power. However, these shifts are nonlinear, forming reinforcing and balancing feedback loops that reshape engagement, trust, and control. Understanding these systemic power shifts is crucial for designing equitable and effective hybrid work environments. This study applies a system dynamics lens to analyze power redistribution in hybrid work. Using causal loop diagrams (CLDs) and a stock-flow model, we identify key feedback mechanisms driving engagement, trust erosion, and digital gatekeeping. We examine how surveillance, visibility, and informal influence evolve over time, revealing emergent structures that reshape organizational authority in remote and hybrid settings. Findings indicate that hybrid work does not inherently flatten hierarchies but redistributes power along digital control lines. Two key feedback loops emerge: (1) a trust-surveillance loop, where increased monitoring leads to disengagement, and (2) a digital gatekeeping loop, where control over virtual spaces dictates informal influence. These dynamics demonstrate that hybrid work can reinforce or disrupt traditional power structures based on organizational policies. Power in hybrid work is shaped by technology-mediated control rather than physical presence. Organizations must recognize that digital visibility, meeting structures, and algorithmic decision-making influence authority as much as formal hierarchy. To mitigate emerging power imbalances, companies should establish equitable hybrid policies, transparency mechanisms, and decentralized decision-making norms that counteract unintended authority consolidation in remote environments. Proofing, minor editing