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.