Home-based work, time allocations, and subjective well-being: gender differences in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Telework and work from home practices have clear implications for workers’ daily behaviors and well-being. This paper explores the differences between workers from home (WFH) and workers away from home (WAFH) time allocations during their workdays, and the instant enjoyment experienced while doing such activities, with a focus on gender differences. We use detailed information from the UK Time Use Survey for the years 2014–2015, which provides us with detailed records of time use along with measures of instantaneous enjoyment. The results show a statistically significant reduction in female and male paid work time associated with WFH, who spend more time than WAFH in unpaid work and leisure activities, but these factors vary between weekdays and weekends. The results also reveal a reduction in men’s experienced enjoyment among WFH while doing paid work, and all WFH enjoy their leisure activities less than do WAFH. These results may improve our understanding of how the practice of WFH relates to worker time allocations during the day, to experienced well-being, and to gender differences in time allocation and well-being.