The Role of Ubiquitous Computing in Maintaining Work-Life Balance: Perspectives from Women in the Information Technology Workforce

Abstract

Transformations

Voluntary Work‐related Technology Use during Non‐work Time: A Narrative Synthesis of Empirical Research and Research Agenda

“…In qualitative research, employees have frequently expressed the perceived pressure exerted by their organizational context to be constantly available and to engage in work-related ICT use during non-work time (Barley et al 2011;Cavazotte et al 2014;Currie and Eveline 2011;Crowe and Middleton 2012;Golden 2013;Harmer et al 2008;Ladner 2008;Lowry and Moskos 2008;Maliszewski 2013;Matusik and Mickel 2011;Mazmanian 2010Mazmanian , 2013Mazmanian et al 2006Middleton 2007;Porter and Kakabadse 2006;Quesenberry and Trauth 2005;Schlosser 2002;Stoner et al 2009;Towers et al 2006). Matusik and Mickel (2011) further outlined that perceived pressure to be responsive is more frequently reported with a high number of different expectation sources (e.g.…”

“…Since ICTs have removed many time-and space-related constraints of non-manual work, flexibility and control regarding when and where work takes place is a frequent theme in research. In numerous qualitative studies, employees have expressed how ICTs have increased (or are assumed to increase) their work-related flexibility and control (Alexander et al 2010;Allen and Shoard 2005;Cavazotte et al 2014;Currie and Eveline 2011;Funtasz 2012;Golden 2013;Lowry and Moskos 2008;Mazmanian 2010;Middleton 2007;Middleton and Cukier 2006;Quesenberry and Trauth 2005;Stoner et al 2009;Towers et al 2006). However, the decrease in perceived flexibility and control has also been reported by employees (Crowe and Middleton 2012;Quesenberry and Trauth 2005).…”

“…In numerous qualitative studies, employees have expressed how ICTs have increased (or are assumed to increase) their work-related flexibility and control (Alexander et al 2010;Allen and Shoard 2005;Cavazotte et al 2014;Currie and Eveline 2011;Funtasz 2012;Golden 2013;Lowry and Moskos 2008;Mazmanian 2010;Middleton 2007;Middleton and Cukier 2006;Quesenberry and Trauth 2005;Stoner et al 2009;Towers et al 2006). However, the decrease in perceived flexibility and control has also been reported by employees (Crowe and Middleton 2012;Quesenberry and Trauth 2005). Evidence in quantitative research was similarly mixed when examining perceived control as consequence of voluntary ICT use: whereas one study found partial support for the positive association between voluntary ICT use and perceived job control (Richardson and Thompson 2012), several studies did not find an association (Duxbury et al 1996;Richardson 2010;Ward and Steptoe-Warren 2014).…”

“…This is not necessarily detrimental, but could lead to a feeling that work never ends (Fender 2011;Mazmanian 2010;. A few studies, in contrast, depicted ICTs as facilitators of work-life balance (Quesenberry and Trauth 2005;Stoner et al 2009;Wajcman et al 2008Wajcman et al , 2010, assisting employees in fulfilling family responsibilities and thereby improving the management of work and family life (Currie and Eveline 2011;Golden 2013;Golden and Geisler 2007;Harmer et al 2008). Despite such potential benefits, ICT use extending work into non-work time is predominantly associated with work-life conflict, as conflicting roles create interpersonal tensions.…”

“…Despite such potential benefits, ICT use extending work into non-work time is predominantly associated with work-life conflict, as conflicting roles create interpersonal tensions. 4 The association between engaging in voluntary ICT use and negative interferences with non-work life has been a prevalent theme in qualitative studies (Barley et al 2011;Cavazotte et al 2014;Funtasz 2012;Harmer et al 2008;Ladner 2008;Lowry and Moskos 2008;Maliszewski 2013;Mazmanian 2010Mazmanian , 2013Middleton 2007;Middleton and Cukier 2006;Porter and Kakabadse 2006;Quesenberry and Trauth 2005;Towers et al 2006), as well as in numerous quantitative studies (Boswell and Olson-Buchanan 2007;Derks and Bakker 2014;Diaz et al 2012;Duxbury et al 1992Duxbury et al , 1996Fender 2011;Fenner and Voluntary ICT use and recovery. During non-work time, it is considered important for employee well-being to refrain from work-related activities and to detach psychologically from work to replenish psychophysiological resources that were depleted by work-related demands; a process referred to as recovery from work (Cropley and Zijlstra 2011;Meijman and Mulder 1998;Sonnentag 2001;Zijlstra et al 2014).…”