When Working from Home Leads to Burnout: The Role of Work-Family Conflict and Job Stress

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic normalized working from home (WFH) for many employees across the globe. However, when individuals are forced to shift to WFH on a full-time basis, WFH might no longer be voluntary or flexible as previously studied. This paper investigates how new WFH arrangements may relate to work and family outcomes. Specifically, we draw on the conservation of resources (COR) theory (Hobfoll, 1989) to investigate the relationship between WFH and burnout. Across two studies, first we measured WFH endogenously, and then, we conducted an experimental manipulation of WFH arrangements, we demonstrate that changes to WFH arrangements can promote loss of resources (through work-family conflict and job stress), which consequently lead to employee burnout. The present research also examines the moderating role of one’s partner’s work arrangements. We discuss the implications of our theory and findings with respect to the remote work and work-family literature.