When the time-space continuum shifts: telework and alterations in the work-family interface

Research investigating telework has received rapidly expanding attention in the wake of the global pandemic. With the increased ability to juggle competing demands from both work and family, telework is being increasingly adopted as a permanent work mode. In this chapter we therefore review existing telework research and its implications for the work-family interface, and find that telework can impact individual attempts to balance work and personal life in both positive and negative ways. We suggest that telework may be viewed as a flexible work arrangement that can assist workers in reducing work-family conflict yet it must be conducted with care to harness these benefits. We also highlight the important role played by individual circumstances and the strategies teleworkers adopt as well as the pivotal role stemming from the extent of teleworking, and we conclude with suggestions for future research.