Distinguishing Work From Home During COVID-19
Are you working from home during the coronavirus crisis? Finding it hard to transition from work to home, and home to work? This integration of working and living at home, under the one roof, is a new concept for so many of us. With it comes a host of challenges on how to strike a balance between our workday and home living. This balance is known as ‘work-home segmentation’.
What is Work-Home Segmentation?
Segmentation refers to the degree to which aspects of work and home (such as thoughts, concerns, and physical markers) are kept separate from one another (Kreiner, 2006). It can be achieved in a variety of ways, such as the very subtle shift when you put your work clothes on, or the commute to the office which activates your “work mode”. Having segmentation between work and home, to at least some degree, is beneficial for us. Research shows that it can help us to detach from work and recover from work demands, reduce work-home conflict and stress, and increase our job satisfaction (Kreiner, 2006; Park, Fritz & Jex, 2011).
The Challenge
The evolving COVID-19 situation means that individuals may be finding it more challenging to achieve healthy work-home segmentation, which increases the risk of negative outcomes. Taking a Person-Environment fit perspective, Kreiner (2006) explained this work-home segmentation challenge further. Using this model, we know that both individual (person) and workplace (environment) factors interact with one another to influence individual outcomes. When we apply this model to the current situation, we can understand why many people may be finding working from home difficult- because some people prefer more segmentation, while others are more integration inclined.
Segmentation vs. Integration
Research suggests that there are several factors influencing the degree to which work-home segmentation poses a challenge to us, including our individual preference, and tech use.
1. Individual preference to integrate or segment work from home
Firstly, we all have individual segmentation preferences, meaning some of us prefer a higher degree of segmentation, whilst others prefer greater integration between work and home domains (Nippert-Eng, 1996). Those who prefer a high degree of segmentation (i.e. a ‘segmenter’) may prefer to completely separate their work from home, whereby walking in the door at the end of the day indicates a total switch ‘off’ from work, and switch ‘on’ to family/home life. On the other end of the spectrum, a typical ‘integrator’ might keep photos of their family in the office and frequently discuss their work domain at home.
2. Technology Use
Secondly, communication technology access and use can also impact the degree of segmentation available when at home (Park, Fritz, & Jex, 2011). Being constantly connected to work technology and communication channels can make segmentation more difficult, even if it is something we want to achieve.
So….What Can We Do?
What can we do to improve work-home segmentation and meet our individual preferences?
1. Adopt strategies and structure based on your personal preferences for segmentation/integration
Consider your personal preference for segmentation and integration, and adapt the use of these strategies accordingly. If you prefer segmenting your work and home life, you may need to take a more structured approach to working from home. Perhaps, consider adopting a weekday routine and having designated work hours and workspaces. Contrarily, if you are comfortable with a greater degree of integration, you can afford to be more flexible with when and how you work.
2. Create a designated workspace
Segmenting work from home is easier if you can go to a designated working space, and leave it when the day is done. If you don’t have a specific workspace, small changes like ‘packing up’ your area at the end of the day, and switching off your computer, can help. Segmenters may need their own area where they can work alone, whereas integrators may prefer to work around others.
3. Clarify boundaries with the people you live with and colleagues you work with.
As we all have individual segmentation preferences, you might find you are now working in the house with people that have different preferences to you! It is important to talk with both your colleagues, and those you live with, about each other’s personal preferences. Agreeing on reasonable boundaries such as working hours, spaces and communication lines can help to create a healthy degree of segmentation. Respect your own boundaries and those of others.
4. Detach from work technology outside of work times.
It can be difficult to detach from technology anytime- pandemic or not. It is just as important now to turn off work email alerts or scheduling a non work-related activity at the end of the work day, to detach from work and achieve more segmentation. The Centre for Transformative Work Design have published a great article on switching off after a long day, suggesting that learning something new, exercising, and putting away your phone or emails are useful strategies.
5. Take an active approach to achieving segmentation if you are leading a team.
Leaders can help to set a good example for team members by modelling good behaviour. Lead by example by communicating your work hours to your team and respecting that schedule. You can also seek to understand your team’s individual preferences and reach out to support them and check in with them to monitor this issue.
Are you more of a segmenter or an integrator, and what other strategies have you been using to balance work and home?
References
Kreiner, G. E. (2006). Consequences of work-home segmentation or integration: a person-environment fit perspective. Journal of Organizational Behaviour, 485–507.
Nippert-Eng, C. E. (1996). Home and work: Negotiating boundaries through everyday life. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Parker, S. (2020, April 14). Switching Off: Recovering After A Long Day At The Desk. Retrieved from Centre for Transformative Work Design: https://www.transformativeworkdesign.com/post/switching-off-recovering-after-a-long-day-at-the-desk
Park, Y., Fritz, C., & Jex, S. M. (2011). Relationships between work-home segmentation and psychological detachment from work: the role of communication technology use at home. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 457–467.
