The effects of working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic on work–life balance, work–family conflict and employee burnout

Abstract

Purpose Despite the extent of working from home (WFH) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, research exploring its positive or negative effects is exceptionally scarce. Unlike the traditional positive view of WFH, the authors hypothesize that WFH during the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered work–life imbalance and work–family conflict (WFC) for employees. Furthermore, the authors suggest that work–life imbalance and WFC elicit burnout in employees. Design/methodology/approach Using a time-lagged design, the authors collected data in three waves during the peak of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic to test the authors' hypotheses. Findings Overall, the authors found good support for the proposed hypotheses. WFH had a significant positive relationship with burnout. WFH was negatively related to work–life balance (WLB) and positively related to WFC. Both WLB and WFC mediated the effects of WFH on burnout. Practical implications This is one of the earliest studies to explore the harmful effects of involuntary WFH and identify the channels through which these effects are transmitted. The practical implications can help managers deal with the adverse effects of WFH during and after the COVID-19 crisis. Originality/value The authors' results significantly contribute to the research on WFH and burnout and present important implications for practice and future research.