Homebased telework as a tool for inclusion? a literature review of telework, disabilities and work-life balance

Abstract

This paper presents a review of the existing literature on the subject of home-based telework from an inclusion and diversity perspective, with a particular focus on workers with disabilities and workers who have family members with disabilities. The review aimed to map research articles that provide insights into the issues of work-life balance, work-life conflict and work-life enhancement. The articles were screened based on publication date, relevance and research contribution. The selected articles after the screening were synthesized, and their main themes organized in five groups: 1) employment; 2) work patterns and accommodations; 3) performance, 4) policy, and 5) work-life balance and enhancement. The article concludes with an overview of the implications of the findings of the survey for future research directions and highlights the need for a greater focus on diversity and inclusion when studying home-based teleworking and issues of work-life balance, work-family conflict and work-life enhancement. Suggestions as to how this can be achieved are presented, for example in considering new research designs that would include more diverse populations of teleworkers among informants or respondents.