ABSTRACT
Idiosyncratic deals (I-deals) constitute the more private aspect of a highly personal experience: the customized arrangements, special conditions, or accommodations a worker obtains from an employer. This chapter focuses on the nature of these arrangements, their consequences (positive and negative), and the processes whereby i-deals arise. It defines i-deals and its features, illustrates the kinds of i-deals workers negotiate, and highlights some of the dilemmas i-deals raise that must be addressed for them to benefit all the parties involved. One impact of the feminization of the workplace has been the questioning of norms regarding career paths and requisite criteria for advancement. While these forces at work in the American economy make it ripe for i-deals, the chapter examines the cross-national factors that influence the role of i-deals worldwide. Given the focus on i-deals in the context of employees working inside an organization, the employment relationship focuses on three interested parties: the individual worker, the employer, and the individual worker's coworkers.
