A qualitative exploration of work-family boundary management strategies among UK telecommuters

This study investigates how UK-based telecommuters, defined as full-time employees who primarily work from home, manage work-family boundaries. Drawing on work-family boundary theory (Ashforth, Kreiner and Fugate, 2000; Clark, 2000), it examines the nature, characteristics and management of these boundaries, addressing conceptual gaps. It also investigates the influence of contextual factors, such as the presence of other telecommuters or children, gender, cultural norms and the COVID-19 pandemic. Employing a qualitative methodology within a constructivist-interpretivist paradigm, the study collected data through semi-structured interviews and diary entries from purposively sampled telecommuters and analysed them using reflexive thematic analysis.

The findings from this research advance understanding of the nature, characteristics and dynamics of work-family boundaries, while extending the literature by introducing novel concepts such as ‘oscillatory transition styles’, ‘flexibility-readiness’, and ‘sensory’ and ‘workspace microcosm’ permeability forms. Multi-telecommuter households (MTHs) face distinct challenges, necessitating collaborative boundary management and adaptations to Kossek’s (2016) framework. Our findings on peripheral factors highlight persistent gender asymmetries, cultural influences and boundary management complexities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also identifies a panoply of strategies for managing childcare and household disruptions in telecommuting contexts, building on prior work (Myrie and Daly, 2009; Tietze, 2002).

Overall, this research refines theoretical understanding of work-family boundaries, enhances extant frameworks while offering practical insights for individuals, organisations and policymakers promoting equitable, sustainable remote work practices.