COVID-19 and mandatory telework: effects on gender roles and work family conflicts among Japanese dual-career regular employees with children

ABSTRACT

This study empirically investigates some of the consequences of mandatory telework from home brought about by the first state of emergency following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Japan. There is yet scant research in Japan on the consequences of working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and this article disentangles the concepts of mandatory and involuntary telework. A survey of regular employees in dual income households with children retrospectively assessed the changes in gender role attitudes and work-family conflicts before and during forced telework from home in the Tokyo area in Spring 2020 and shed light on their first experience with telework. Mandatory telework, regardless of frequency, did not affect gender role attitudes among Japanese dual-career couples, and was associated with lower work-family conflict more so among women. Full mandatory telework resulted in higher satisfaction with one's work space at home for women, and a desire for more frequent telework among both genders, once COVID-19 is under control. These results can help individuals, firms, and governments understand the effects of mandatory telework and devise countermeasures supporting flexible work arrangements. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Japan Forum is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)