The impact of work-related technology and boundary management on work-family conflict and enrichment during COVID-19

Abstract

Abstract Technology has become a ubiquitous force in modern life, leading to the blurring of work-life boundaries. The recent global pandemic brought this to the fore, particularly in the context of academia, where the blurring of boundaries were already apparent. This study explores whether and how information communication technology (ICT) blurred boundaries and impacted work-family conflict (WFC) and work-family enrichment (WFE) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This examination is critical to optimise the value that ICTs may provide for the well-being of academics and their families. Drawing on semi-structured interviews, data was collected from 14 academics with children. Findings indicated that ICT triggered various stressors leading to WFC, while simultaneously improving participants’ availability leading to WFE. Managing boundaries was complex and depended on preferences and resources to enact these preferences. The findings highlight the paradoxical consequences of ICT, raising questions about increasing complexity in academic work and the need for more sustainable flexible work models.