The gendered effect of an overwork climate and high personal standards for work-home conflict during the pandemic

ABSTRACT

Although working from home and various other forms of flexible work are often presented as measures to strengthen work-life balance, research depicts a less optimistic picture. Previous research has shown that the impact of telework on work-home conflict is controversial, depending on various factors that are also frequently gender-specific. In this study, the authors evaluate and compare the effects of external expectations (i.e., an organizational overwork climate) and internal expectations (i.e., high personal standards) on changes in work-home conflict between working men and women during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania. Both types of expectations were associated with difficulties reconciling work and private life. Due to their interactions with stereotypical gender roles, organizational expectations encouraging overtime work had a more pronounced effect on male employees. Results suggest that an overwork climate within organizations is a problem not only for employees' well-being but also poses a risk to gender equality in work and private life.