The work-family interface and the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review

Abstract

In an unprecedented fashion, COVID-19 has impacted the work-family interface since March 2020. As one of the COVID-19 pandemic consequences, remote work became widely adopted. Furthermore, it is expected that other pandemics will occur in the future. Hence, this context represents a chance to gain deeper insight into telecommuters’ work and family spheres. Following PRISMA guidelines, the present narrative review aims to synthesise the COVID-19 impact on the work-family interface. Out of 121 screened references, 32 articles that measure at least one of the following variables–work-family conflict (25), work-family enrichment (3), work-family balance (8), and boundary management (21) were included. A thematic analysis using NVIVO12 was conducted, from which eight topics emerged: “paid workload, unpaid workload, and gender”; “well-being and gender”; “job resources, job demands, and gender”; “couples and gender”; “parenting and gender”; “occurrence of work-family enrichment with work-family conflict and gender”; “enforced blurred boundaries, its management, and gender”; “boundary management impact on work-family conflict, work-family enrichment, and work-family balance.” Overall, studies point out that COVID-19 had a complex effect on both work-family conflict and work-family balance, making it difficult to state whether these variables were mitigated or augmented. Findings demonstrated that COVID-19 produced little changes in work-family enrichment. As for the COVID-19 impact on work-family boundary management, individuals had to create new tactics to manage them due to the absence of boundaries between both systems. Besides, due to traditional gendered roles, the COVID-19 health crisis seems to have brought additional hurdles to couples and women.Systematic Review Registration[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021278254], identifier [CRD42021278254].

The concept of “Work-Life-Blending”: a systematic review

“…The research field of the blending of work and life is extensive and constantly evolving. In particular, the COVID-19 pandemic has unexpectedly and quickly changed the interface between work and life ( de Araújo Vitória et al, 2022 ). For example, the personal preference for segmentation between work and life ( Kim and Hollensbe, 2017 ) no longer played a role in the national lockdown, as working from home became mandatory ( Van Gelder et al, 2022 ).…”

“…As previously mentioned, particularly due to the pandemic, the theme of dissolving boundaries between work and life has evolved and achieved unexpected dynamics in recent years ( de Araújo Vitória et al, 2022 ). For example, the pandemic has led to a significant flexibilisation of work locations and remote or mobile work has been adopted and has many different and complex effects on the interface between work and life ( de Araújo Vitória et al, 2022 ). In response to that, resource-oriented approaches should be pursued and researched.…”

“…Remote work arrangements and other disruptions have compelled many individuals to blend work and personal life, prompting a renewed focus on this topic in the post-pandemic world and highlighting new characteristics of the future of work ( Malhotra, 2021 ). The latest studies are exploring the impact of these changes on individuals and organizations and how they can successfully navigate the boundaries between work and home life (e.g., Adisa et al, 2022 ; de Araújo Vitória et al, 2022 ). Taken together, the research field of Work-Life-Blending has evolved significantly over the last decades, reflecting broader individual and organizational changes towards greater flexibility, autonomy, and integration between work and personal life.…”

“…In particular, the focus lies on the positive and negative effects, for instance, of working from home ( Jaiswal et al, 2022 ). de Araújo Vitória et al (2022) provide a current review of the effects of COVID-19 on Work-Life-Blending.…”

Reducing work interruptions and work-related interruptions of employees’ leisure time through job analysis and leadership coaching

“…Noteworthy, the study took place before the COVID-19 pandemic. With the COVID-19 pandemic, boundary management has become even more demanding, primarily because of the increase in working from home, where avoiding interference with work and private issues becomes more challenging 50) . It, therefore, seems essential not only to leave it up to the employees themselves to get their work behavior as well in their leisure time under control.…”