Mode of Working and Work-Family Conflict among Indian Employees: A Mixed-Methods Study

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic brought abrupt changes to modes of working, marked by a rapid and widespread shift from physical workplaces to virtual work environments. This transition altered established boundaries between professional and family roles and heightened concerns about work-family conflict. Aim: This study examines whether the mode of working is associated with differences in work-family conflict experienced by working adults in India. It also explores whether these experiences vary by gender, job type, and living arrangements. Methods: A mixed-methods explanatory sequential design is used. Quantitative data are collected from 210 working adults aged 20 to 60 years. Qualitative data are collected through semi-structured interviews with a subsample of 11 participants. Thematic analysis is conducted to examine lived experiences of work-family conflict across work arrangements. Results: Results indicate that work-family conflict is significantly higher in virtual work settings than in physical work settings. Gender differences are not statistically significant, although women report higher mean levels of conflict across both work modes. No significant differences are observed across job types or living arrangements. Qualitative findings show that virtual work is associated with blurred work-time boundaries, extended availability, increased domestic demands, and competition for household resources. Physical work is associated with clearer boundaries, but greater fatigue related to commuting. Hybrid work emerges as a preferred arrangement that combines flexibility with structure. Organisational, familial, and social support reduce experiences of work-family conflict. Gendered expectations around caregiving and domestic labour shape how conflict is experienced. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that work-family conflict is influenced by how work is organised and supported. In the Indian context, mode of working is central to how boundaries are negotiated and role interference is experienced.