Work and Family in the Virtual Office: Perceived Influences of Mobile Telework

Keywords

Family relations, Child care, Virtual office, Family members, Telecommuting, Home based employment, Family life education, Preschool children, Home offices

Abstract

Telework is a rapidly emerging reality in the workplace. This study explores the influence of mobile telework on family life as reported by teleworkers in a large national corporation (n = 157). In addition, this group is compared to an equivalent group of office workers (n = 89) from the same corporation. Mobile teleworkers reported much greater work flexibility. Some reported that their families thrived because of this flexibility. Others reported that their families struggled because workplace and schedule flexibility blurred the boundaries between work and family life. Suggestions are given for how family life educators might help mobile teleworkers ease the transition from traditional work to the virtual office.

Original Publication Citation

Hill, E. J., Hawkins, A. J., & Miller, B. C. (1996). Work and family in the virtual office: Perceived influences of mobile telework. Family Relations 45(3), 293-301. doi: 10.2307/585501

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

1996-7

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/5146

Publisher

Family Relations

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

Link to Full Text

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