An Overview of Work-Life Wellness for Teleworking Couples

A sizeable number of employees throughout Canada are continuing to telework following the COVID-19 pandemic. Couples who telework may experience tension between their work and personal life. Telework may have both positive and negative impacts on work-life wellness depending on employee circumstances. For example, teleworking women with children may be expected to prioritize their home and family over their work. Even though COVID-related restrictions have eased in Canada, allowing for more freedom around home and work arrangements, it is plausible to expect a long-term shift towards an increased number of employees working from home more often, with associated changes in family dynamics as both partners adjust to this "new normal." In response to the complex relationship between teleworking and work-life wellness in the context of couples, the first author has proposed a study to research work-life wellness for teleworking couples, addressing the research question, "how do teleworking couples construct and cultivate work-life wellness together?". It is anticipated that this study will foster understanding of work-life wellness in teleworking couples, and inform policies, counselling techniques, and future research.