The effects of remote work during Covid-19 on work-life balance and working arrangement preferences of employees

• Main Author: Sigrún Birna Björnsdóttir 1979-
• Other Authors: Háskólinn í Reykjavík
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: Mannauðsstjórnun og vinnusálfræði; Meistaraprófsritgerðir; COVID-19; Fjarvinna; Human resource management and organizational psychology; Work; Work-life balance; Iceland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1946/39946

The objective of this research was to explore the effect remote work had on work-life balance during Covid-19 and the working preferences of participants. Two research questions were put forward in the introduction chapter: What effects did remote work have on work-life balance during Covid-19 among employees in Iceland? and: What are the working arrangement preferences of employees in Iceland? The literature review focuses on the history of research regarding work-life balance and remote work, both globally and specifically for Iceland. A qualitative research was conducted, consisting of eighteen semi structured interviews. The results suggest that remote work during Covid-19 had an overall positive effect on work-life balance for most participants, with less travel time, increased sleep, more work efficiency, and the ability to do housework during breaks, being frequently mentioned as factors. The results also suggest that participants prefer flexibility with regards to working arrangements and the freedom to choose whether they work remotely, with the majority of those who want to work remotely stating that two or three days a week working remotely would be the ideal working arrangement.