New research from Durham University Business School has revealed that women face greater challenges in separating their work and family lives when working remotely compared to men. While remote work has often been praised for its potential to address gender inequality by offering greater flexibility, this study highlights that personal circumstances still significantly impact women’s careers.
Conducted by Menghan Shen, an MSc Information Management student at the University of Sheffield, and Dr. Efpraxia Zamani, Associate Professor of Information Systems at Durham University Business School, the research explored how both men and women set boundaries and manage the intersection of their work and personal lives when working from home.
The findings show that women are more likely to experience blurred boundaries between work and family life, often facing regular distractions during work hours. This blurring increases stress levels for women and can lead to reduced productivity. In contrast, men reported a clearer separation between work and family time, with work rarely encroaching on their personal lives.
Interestingly, the study also found that women are more inclined to prioritize family needs during work hours, while men are less likely to attend to family matters if they conflict with their work schedule.
However, the researchers caution against viewing remote work as inherently negative for women. Dr. Zamani explains, “The flexibility of working from home has enabled women to make significant strides in closing the gender gap at work. But our findings indicate that true equality in work and family life will require more shared responsibilities at home, as women currently bear a greater burden in the domestic sphere.”
The study underscores that the impact of remote work varies depending on personal circumstances and how employers manage remote working arrangements. While fully remote work can lead to feelings of isolation and reduced self-confidence, it can also improve well-being and work-life balance—provided that employees have the right support.
To optimize remote work for all employees, the researchers suggest that employers should provide access to tools and systems that help manage boundaries effectively. For instance, offering flexible working patterns can allow remote workers to better integrate their professional and personal lives, leading to more productive and satisfying work experiences.
If you would like to receive the full research paper, or speak with the researchers, please contact Peter Remon at BlueSky Education – peter@bluesky-pr.com +44 (0) 77 235 228 30.
Source: https://zapier.com/
Original title: The Gender Divide in Remote Work: Women Struggle More with Work-Life Balance
Author: Ralph Hawthorn