Teleworking and work–life balance during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review.

Abstract

Telework, a work modality that allows employees to work outside the boundaries of an office through information and communication technologies, is rising. As the COVID-19 pandemic imposed social distancing regulations, alternative ways to work are growing in popularity. However, given the rapid growth of telework and the interest by employees to continue using this mode of operation, examination of the available literature is essential to guide future work. The current scoping review aimed to examine the effects of telework on employees' work and nonwork domains. Key attention was given to the effects on work-life balance. Under the umbrella of work-life balance, consequences on psychological health and performance were also examined. Six databases were consulted to gather articles published between January 2020 and December 2021. A total of 42 articles from Asia, Europe, North and South America, as well as Oceania, were included. Heterogenous findings were identified with regard to work-life balance and psychological health and these inconsistencies seemed to depend on moderating factors such as biological sex, boundary management strategies, and frequency of telework to name a few. Performance seemed to benefit the most from telework, albeit some exceptions (e.g., having pets, young children, or dependents) seemed to affect it negatively. We conclude that telework may not be beneficial for all and that a more thorough understanding of how teleworking can impact employees' various personal and private domains is further required. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (French) Le teletravail, une modalite de travail qui permet aux employes de travailler en dehors des limites d'un bureau grace aux technologies de l'information et de la communication, est en hausse. La pandemie de la COVID-19 ayant impose des regles de distanciation sociale, les modes de travail alternatifs gagnent en popularite. Or, etant donne la croissance rapide du teletravail et l'interet des employes a continuer a utiliser ce mode de fonctionnement, l'examen de la litterature disponible est essentiel pour guider les travaux futurs. La presente etude visait a examiner les effets du teletravail sur les domaines professionnels et non professionnels des employes. Une attention particuliere a ete accordee aux effets sur l'equilibre entre le travail et la vie privee. Dans le cadre de l'equilibre entre le travail et la vie privee, les consequences sur la sante psychologique et le rendement ont egalement ete examinees. Six bases de donnees ont ete consultees pour rassembler les articles publies entre janvier 2020 et decembre 2021. Au total, 42 articles provenant d'Asie, d'Europe, d'Amerique du Nord et du Sud, ainsi que d'Oceanie, ont ete inclus. Des resultats heterogenes ont ete identifies en ce qui concerne l'equilibre entre le travail et la vie privee et la sante psychologique, et ces incoherences semblent dependre de facteurs moderateurs tels que le sexe biologique, les strategies de gestion des limites et la frequence du teletravail, pour n'en citer que quelques-uns. Le rendement, quant a lui, semblait beneficier davantage du teletravail, bien que certaines exceptions (par exemple, le fait d'avoir des animaux domestiques, de jeunes enfants ou des personnes a charge) semblent l'affecter negativement. Nous concluons que le teletravail n'est peut-etre pas benefique pour tous et qu'il est necessaire de mieux comprendre l'impact du teletravail sur les differents domaines personnels et prives des employes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement Due to COVID-19, the environments that employees must work in have changed. Teleworking may at first glance offer a potential solution to help workers gain more control over both their work and family lives;however, various factors may affect the ensuing work-life balance. Future research is needed to explore how these effects will unfold in the current context of adaptation to the massive use of telework. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)