Teleworking Linkage with Improvement of Work and Life Balance During the COVID-19 pandemic

Teleworking Linkage with Work Life Balance during the COVID 19 pandemic
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Hajieh Bibi Razeghi Nasrabad^[1]
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Abstract




The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between teleworking and work-family balance during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research employed a qualitative approach, and the sample included 27 women with children under 12 years old working at Tehran Municipality, Iran. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, ensuring maximum variety in terms of age, number of children, position, and type of contract. The sample size was determined based on theoretical saturation.
The data collection method involved in-depth interviews, and thematic analysis was used for data analysis. The findings revealed that women tended to work more remotely than their husbands, leading to them shouldering the majority of the housework. According to the findings, the relationship between teleworking and work-family balance during the COVID-19 pandemic can be categorized into eight sub-themes and two main themes: "the gap between expectations and realities of teleworking" and "the potential to improve work-family balance."
These findings suggest that telecommuting during the pandemic posed challenges due to a lack of infrastructure and requirements. Depending on individual family characteristics and the nature of the job, teleworking either enhanced family-work balance or contributed to work-family imbalance. Despite the numerous limitations and challenges faced by working mothers, the continuation of teleworking after the COVID-19 era, along with flexible work arrangements in terms of both time and location, is deemed essential for achieving a balanced family-work dynamic.
 
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Keywords




Teleworking, Work-famiy Balance, COVID-19, Employed Women, Housework.   
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‌Introduction
‌In recent years, the balance between work responsibilities and family life obligations has become a focal point in many societies. Research findings indicate that work-family conflict has adverse effects on individuals, families, and organizations. Duxbury and Higgins (1991) demonstrated that work-family conflict negatively impacts the quality of both work and family life, subsequently decreasing overall life satisfaction. Aryee, Fields, and Luk (1999) identified reduced job and family satisfaction as separate consequences of family-work and work-family conflicts, ultimately negatively affecting life satisfaction. Frone, Russell, and Cooper (1992) argued that work-family conflict, family anxieties, and family-work conflict lead to job anxiety, often resulting in depression.
Teleworking has been proposed as an option to mitigate work-family conflicts in the literature. The expectation is that the flexibility in time and location provided by teleworking could reduce the challenges associated with work-family conflicts. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a significant shift to telework globally, affecting various aspects of people's lives, particularly women (Galasso, 2020). The pandemic necessitated remote operations for many business departments and the performance of administrative tasks from home (Kaushik & Guleria, 2020).
In Iran, teleworking regulations were initially approved in 2010 to increase productivity, work flexibility, and reduce government employees' commuting. Although the decree was canceled in 2012, the COVID-19 pandemic led to its revival with some modifications. In the new conditions of remote work during the pandemic, women are presumed to bear the brunt of non-paid work due to societal and cultural norms assigning them household and childcare responsibilities. Additionally, the labor market, characterized by lower wages and greater instability, is more accessible to women than men, making teleworking a more viable option for women (Lewis, 2020).
Given women's growing interest in job opportunities and the prevalence of technology in various economic and social fields, analyzing different aspects of teleworking becomes crucial. This study aimed to explore the relationship between teleworking and work-life balance among women working in the municipality during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
 
Methodology
The research employed a qualitative approach, utilizing phenomenology as the research method. The sample included 27 women with children under 12 years old working in Tehran Municipality, selected through purposive sampling with maximum variety. Data collection involved in-depth interviews, and thematic analysis was employed for data analysis. The interviews were conducted from February to May 2021.
 
Findings
Applying Brown and Clark's methodology, 214 concepts were extracted, categorized into nine sub-themes and two main themes: "Gap between expectations and realities of remote work" and "Potential to improve work-family balance in post-corona conditions."
The category "Gap between expectations and realities of remote work" comprised five sub-themes: "existence of stereotyped attitudes about the ideal employee and remote worker," "permeability of work and family boundaries," "gender stereotypes," and "stress caused by meeting job and family expectations."
The category "Potential to improve family-work balance in post-coronavirus conditions" emerged from four sub-themes: "Teleworking is a symbol of family-friendly policy," "Opportunity to test extensive teleworking," "Increasing the efficiency of women in the two fields of employment and family," and "Potential change in social norms."
Despite the challenges faced by working mothers in the family and work environment during teleworking, they expressed a desire for its continuation, viewing it as a mechanism to increase job and family satisfaction post-COVID-19.
 
Results
The study's results indicated that working mothers encountered various challenges during teleworking, stemming from the unpreparedness of the family system and labor market for this mode of work. It is crucial to differentiate between "teleworking in normal conditions" and "teleworking in emergency conditions." In normal conditions, with children in school or daycare and a designated workspace at home, some challenges can be mitigated.
Despite challenges, participants viewed teleworking as useful and necessary, advocating for its continuation. For effective implementation, considerations include a working mother's willingness, organizational support for coherent work plans, realistic expectations, awareness of potential mental health effects, and training in effective coping strategies.
Many participants acknowledged the lack of a reduction in work efficiency during remote work but experienced job devaluation, loss of benefits, and limited access to office amenities. Policymakers are urged to ensure the proper implementation of teleworking laws, addressing issues such as access to technology, bonuses based on work type and efficiency, and the organization's trust in mothers during teleworking.
Support for men's greater participation in housework and childcare is essential. Cultural, technological, and managerial enhancements are recommended to realize teleworking as an effective tool for improving the quality of life, work-family balance, and job productivity.
This study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the teleworking experiences were influenced by these conditions. Future research is suggested to investigate this issue among both men and women in post-pandemic conditions.
 
[1]. Associate Professor of Demography, Faculty of Social Sciences, University  of Tehran & National Institute of Population Research,  Tehran Iran, Email:  hrazeghi@ut.ac.ir,  (Corresponding Author)
Submit Date: 2023/03/01                                 Accept Date: 2023/26/03