(Tele)work and family conflicts in times of the COVID-19 pandemic: working-age gender role challenges

Objective: This study examined how the COVID-19 pandemic and associated social restrictions influenced the work-life balance of working-age adults in terms of gender equality. Background: Increased occupational demands during the pandemic may have disrupted the balance between work and home life. For example, mandatory teleworking during the pandemic posed additional challenges and may have caused friction between work and personal commitments, obligations, that enhanced gender disparities. Method: Qualitative interview data were collected from 47 working-age adults from Portugal (aged between 30 and 61 years old; 55% women) and analyzed using codebook thematic analysis. Results: Two main themes were identified: (1) Work and family conflicts, (i.e., participants’ conflicts between their work and family dimensions and the challenge of achieving a balance); and (2) Disruptions to self, family, and social relationships during lockdown (i.e., interpersonal relationships during the lockdown periods). Conclusion: Families struggled to achieve a balance between family and work, especially parents of young children, with women more impacted by the imbalance than men. Implications: We hope that this work will encourage stakeholders to consider appropriate strategies for addressing work and family conflicts. Initiatives aimed at strengthening gender equity are encouraged.