Is Telework Too Much Work?

Several studies have pointed to the potential benefits of telework, such as increased work-life balance, the ability to maintain continuity of operations in the face of a natural disaster or other emergency situation, improved employee productivity and reduced vehicle carbon emissions on the environment. But a new study by the University of Texas suggests some potential downsides for teleworking, particularly when it comes to blurring that work-life balance line.

University of Texas researchers found that most employees who work remotely are working more hours than their in-office counterparts. For example, most of the 30 percent of respondents who said they work from home add five to seven hours to their workweek compared with those who work exclusively at the office. Teleworkers also were less likely to work a standard 40-hour workweek and more likely to work overtime. Many of those who telework also said most of their teleworking hours came after they had already put in 40 hours of work at the office.