Impact of Work from Home amid COVID-19 on Work-Life Balance of Academicians at Higher Education Institutes in India- A Literature Review & Future Agenda

Abstract

Working from home was inevitable, but the pandemic turned it into a compulsion. Not only the way in which organizations work but also the relationship between workers and employers has been deeply impacted by this transition. Working from home (WFH) is proven to have both favourable and unfavourable effects on employees’ work-life balance. The present study is an attempt to provide a literature review on the substantial linkages of Work from Home amid COVID-19 with Work-Life Balance particularly, in the context of academicians at higher education institutes (HEIs). The positive aspect of WFH is that academicians are able to spend more quality time with their families. Negative aspects include reduced social interaction, the need for more time to prepare for online classes and long working hours. The paper aims to give directions to future researchers to take up innovative HR practices to deal with work-life balance issues in WFH model and assess their impact on their performance. It suggests to them to perform a comprehensive study to understand the need for WFH dynamics and their impact on employees as well as organizational excellence.