Work-life balance crafting during COVID-19: exploring strategies of telecommuting employees in the Philippines

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to explore the work-life balance (WLB) crafting strategies of employees with telecommuting work arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative data from 112 employees in the Philippines were collected through online surveys. Deductive thematic analysis was then conducted to identify the physical, cognitive and relational WLB crafting strategies that they practice. Results suggest that employees utilized a variety of WLB crafting strategies to be able to balance demands in both work and non-work domains while telecommuting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical crafting strategies include managing time, managing work tasks and managing the workspace. Cognitive crafting strategies include enforcing health-related self-care practices, and embracing the fluidity between work, rest and leisure. Relational crafting strategies include spending time with family and virtually connecting with co-workers. Results suggest that the strategies used by employees to achieve WLB during the COVID-19 pandemic are reflective of the physical, relational and cognitive WLB crafting strategies found in earlier literature, albeit nuanced by the effects of the pandemic in the work and family/life domains. Findings may help inform the design of WLB programs and initiatives that will enhance employee WLB during the COVID-19 pandemic and in future crisis situations.

KEYWORDS:

• Work-life balance
• crafting
• COVID-19
• telecommuting
• work from home
• Philippines

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jaimee Felice Caringal-Go

Jaimee Felice Caringal-Go is a Lecturer in the Department of Psychology of the Ateneo de Manila University and the Director for Research and Development of the Ateneo Center for Organization Research and Development. She obtained her PhD in Psychology and MA in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the Ateneo, and her BA from the University of Virginia where she double majored in Psychology and Foreign Affairs and minored in Religious Studies. Her research interests include well-being, work-life balance, motivation, crises, and social enterprises.

Mendiola Teng-Calleja

Mendiola Teng-Calleja is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology of the Ateneo de Manila University and the Executive Director of the Ateneo Center for Organization Research and Development. She obtained her PhD in Social-Organizational Psychology from the Ateneo where she also obtained her MA degree. Her research interests include humanitarian work psychology, labor relations, well-being, resilience, organization psychology, and organization development.

Donald Jay Bertulfo

Donald Jay Bertulfo is an Assistant Instructor in the Department of Psychology of the Ateneo de Manila University and an Economic Researcher (Consultant) at the Asian Development Bank. He obtained his MS in Applied Mathematics (Optimization and Approximations Track) from the University of the Philippines-Diliman and his BA in Economics (Honors Program) and Psychology from the Ateneo de Manila University. His research interests include international, labor and organizational economics, particularly in the application of big data methodologies and computational social science tools to understand the dynamics of labor, trade and technology.

Jason O. Manaois

Jason O. Manaois took his PhD in Psychology at Ateneo de Manila University. He is a Lecturer at Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan. His research interests include mental health, community intervention, and organizational development. He is involved in projects on community-based drug rehabilitation, mental health and psychosocial support, and workplace wellness.