Gender differences in remote work: a study on the boundary management tactics of women and men

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify potential differences in experiences and their causes from a gender-based perspective.Design/methodology/approachWe use secondary data, and we conduct a thematic analysis, to identify whether and how women and men negotiate differently.FindingsDespite remote work being considered as creating a level-playing field for both genders, women are still vulnerable to work and life demands, and pre-existing stereotypes become exacerbated. In addition, we show how technology might be used to manage physical and temporal boundaries, through integration or segmentation tactics.Originality/valueThere is a growing body of literature that focuses on work-life conflict among teleworkers. Yet, there is limited research that explores such conflicts from a gender perspective, specifically whether and how different genders manage boundaries between work and life differently.