TY - CHAP
T1 - The home-work balance of telecommuters: ten years after
AU - Casimir, G.J.
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - In 2001, my doctoral dissertation on the impact of telecommuting on the division of labour in the domestic setting ended with the notion that boundaries between work and home are increasingly blurred. In this study, I investigated if this trend actually took place, by means of an analysis of articles in Dutch and Belgian newspapers and (popular) magazines between 2001 and 2011. A quantitative content analysis and a qualitative domain analysis were conducted. Between 2001 and 2011, 438 articles were published on telecommuting, household or family, and balance or the combination of work and private life. There was a peak (84) for these articles in 2008. In 141 articles, traffic congestion was an issue, for which telecommuting could be one of the solutions. The policy plans of Dutch ministries or labour unions also gained much attention (90 in total). Improved productivity was mentioned in 87 articles and flexibility in 233. For many telecommuters, and for their employers, a better balance between work and home was the reason for this way of working. In most cases, this balance is positively assessed. However, there are drawbacks as well. Domestic activities can distract the telecommuter.
AB - In 2001, my doctoral dissertation on the impact of telecommuting on the division of labour in the domestic setting ended with the notion that boundaries between work and home are increasingly blurred. In this study, I investigated if this trend actually took place, by means of an analysis of articles in Dutch and Belgian newspapers and (popular) magazines between 2001 and 2011. A quantitative content analysis and a qualitative domain analysis were conducted. Between 2001 and 2011, 438 articles were published on telecommuting, household or family, and balance or the combination of work and private life. There was a peak (84) for these articles in 2008. In 141 articles, traffic congestion was an issue, for which telecommuting could be one of the solutions. The policy plans of Dutch ministries or labour unions also gained much attention (90 in total). Improved productivity was mentioned in 87 articles and flexibility in 233. For many telecommuters, and for their employers, a better balance between work and home was the reason for this way of working. In most cases, this balance is positively assessed. However, there are drawbacks as well. Domestic activities can distract the telecommuter.
U2 - 10.3920/978-90-8686-775-2_10
DO - 10.3920/978-90-8686-775-2_10
M3 - Chapter
SN - 9789086862214
T3 - Mansholt publication series
SP - 143
EP - 160
BT - The arena of everyday life
A2 - Butijn, C.A.A.
A2 - Ophem, J.A.C.
A2 - Casimir, G.J.
CY - Wageningen
ER -
