The Coronavirus Pandemic And Work-Life Imbalance: Adapting Strategies To Maximixe The Job Performance While Working From Home (A Qualitative Inquiry From The Employees Of Pakistani Organizations
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally altered the work landscape, accelerating the adoption of remote work and exposing profound challenges related to work-life balance. This paper explores the phenomenon of work-life imbalance during pandemic, examining the specific pressures and disruptions caused by this ‘new normal’ work strategy experienced by IT professionals and computer scientists. This study also focuses on remote working and how it impacts the employees’ management of work and the anthropology of the internet that has been changed in the recent years because of the virus. Therefore, utilizing qualitative methodology, in-depth online interviews were conducted from 20 professionals. Key factors contributing to work-life imbalance, such as blurred boundaries between work and personal life, increased workload, and constant connectivity, were identified and analyzed. In response to these challenges, the paper presents various strategies adapted by individuals to restore equilibrium and enhance productivity while working from home. These strategies include the use of technology for effective communication and collaboration, the creation of dedicated workspaces, time management techniques, and practices for maintaining mental and physical well-being. The participants also emphasized on the importance of organizational policies that support flexible work arrangements and employee well-being. The findings reveal that remote working has both positive and negative points and it is concluded that hybrid working model is more helpful in mitigating work-life imbalance to foster a sustainable and healthy work environment in post pandemic scenario in Pakistan.
Keywords: Work-life balance, remote work, COVID-19 pandemic, work-life imbalance, work-from-home strategies, employee well-being, flexible work arrangements, organizational support.
