Work from home, time allocations, and wellbeing: The impact of lockdowns

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of WFH skyrocketed as business closed and distancing standards were mandated, exposing many workers to a remote work arrangement. How working from home (WFH) affects worker time management, activity timing, and enjoyment, considering gender differences and pandemic phases, is explored in the current study. The study uses real-time data from the UK Click-and-Drag Diary covering pre-pandemic, lockdown, and post-pandemic periods. Findings show no significant overall impact on time allocations, but reveal gender disparities: pre-pandemic, WFH involved less paid work and more leisure among women, but during lockdowns, patterns converged. No notable differences in instant enjoyment were found between WFH and non-WFH employees, though pre-pandemic negative correlations in women's WFH leisure time vanished during and post-pandemic. The economic implications span across labor productivity, gender dynamics in employment, business model adaptation, and work-life balance. These findings could impact corporate policies, human resource strategies, and the design of governmental policies related to the labor market and gender equality. JEL classification: J16, J22.