Work-Life Balance in the IT Industries: A Comprehensive Study

Abstract

In the IT industry, particularly experiencing dynamic and demanding operations, the concern about the quality of working life has become a predominant issue. They identified flexible work schedules as a trend that has been changed by COVID-19, leading people to transform from a well-structured work environment to working from home. Working from home has mixed up work and personal life, creating new mental and practical challenges. This research explores the shift to remote and hybrid work, flexibility of remote work on work-life balance in IT, using productivity, well-being, and socio-technical formations. IT professionals, in terms of productivity and flexibility, and, in contrast, some others experience elevated stress levels and isolation. For example, while some of the software developers noted that remote working had enabled them to avoid daily traffic and set flexible working hours, others reported distraction and poor working environments caused by ineffective domestic working stations led to stress on their health. In addition, existing studies reveal that personal preference for remote or office work can largely depend on factors such as family obligations, technical support, and available pro-organizational culture, suggesting that IT workers may require differential support to achieve work-life balance. This study emphasizes the challenges and factors affecting work-life balance in the IT industry.