The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic shook the global economy to its core, enforcing wide-ranging working from home (WFH) movements in addition to traditional working from office (WFO) structures. As the debates continue over how to permanently embed WFH into the work reality, to do so successfully, the components of changing work venues must be evaluated. Hence, there is a growing urgency to adapt to the new ways of working through focused organizational and managerial intervention. Utilizing the grounded theory, the analysis of qualitative interview data from Germany and Sweden formed the foundation of the paper’s research on changing work venues concerning individual and organizational resilience. Here, young professionals shared experiences of WFH during the pandemic in conjunction with their time WFO before and after COVID-19 restrictions. Through the theoretical framework of resilience as practice, this paper establishes three processes that have a major impact on the quality of home office in relation to resilience: (1) adapting to WFH, (2) acknowledging the advantages and disadvantages of WFO and WFH, and (3) emphasizing individual preferences and differences. The study suggests that the more structured and faster the company adapted to WFH during the transitional period, the less pronounced the employee’s possible negative experiences were. Concerning the benefits of different work venues and individual preferences, this paper concludes that WFH is a substantial supplement to traditional work on-site with the potential to increase individual and organizational resilience.

Die Vereinbarkeit von Beruf und Familie ist eine der größten Herausforderungen und gleichzeitig Gelingensbedingung für Geschlechtergerechtigkeit auf dem Arbeitsmarkt und im familiären Bereich. Die vorliegende Dissertation verdeutlicht in drei empirischen Papieren die Relevanz von Sorgearbeit für die Arbeitsmarktpartizipation von Frauen und Männern, sowie die Rolle von Unternehmen für das Unterfangen, berufliche und familiäre Aufgaben zu vereinbaren. Im ersten Papier fragt diese Dissertation nach der Rolle von Haus- und Sorgearbeit sowie ihrer Verteilung im Paar für die Arbeitsmarktpartizipation von Frauen und Männern. Für die Analyse werden Daten des Sozio-oekonomischen Panels (SOEP) der Jahre 2001-2017 herangezogen. Um sich bestmöglich einer kausalen Identifikation anzunähern, werden First- Difference Instrumentalvariablen-Regressionen (FD-IV) geschätzt. Das zweite Papier betrachtet die Gründe von Vätern gegen eine (längere) Elternzeitnahme. Anhand eines Mixed-Methods Forschungsdesigns wird untersucht, welche betrieblichen Determinanten eine (längere) Elternzeitnutzung erklären. Darüber hinaus wird analysiert, ob und in welchem Unternehmenskontext Männer und Frauen Karriereeinbußen nach Elternzeitnutzung erfahren. Die Datenbasis sind qualitative und quantitative Daten einer Zusatzbefragung zum AID:A II Survey. Das dritte Papier untersucht die Frage nach dem Zusammenhang von Homeoffice-Nutzung und Work-Family Conflicts. Konkret wird analysiert, ob es Unterschiede nach Unternehmenskultur gibt. Auf Grundlage des LPP-ADIAB werden Multilevel-Regressionen mit fixen Effekten für Berufe separat für Männer und Frauen geschätzt. Zusammengefasst belegt die Dissertation geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede in der Herausforderung, Erwerbstätigkeit und private Verpflichtungen in Einklang zu bringen. Darüber hinaus wird die Notwendigkeit von politischen Reformen und der Handlungsbedarf, aber auch die Gestaltungsmöglichkeiten von Unternehmen verdeutlicht. / Reconciling work and family is one of the greatest challenges and, simultaneously, a precondition for gender equality both in the labor market and in the domestic sphere. In three empirical chapters, this dissertation illustrates the relevance of care work for the labor market participation of women and men, as well as the role of companies in the effort to reconcile work and family responsibilities. In the first paper, this dissertation asks about the role of housework and care and its distribution in the couple for the labor market participation of women and men. The analysis uses data from the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) from 2001-2017 on time use for various household chores as well as childcare and eldercare. First-difference instrumental variable regressions (FD-IV) are estimated to best approximate a causal identification. The second paper examines fathers’ reasons against taking (longer) parental leave. Building on this, a mixed-methods research design is used to investigate which firm-level determinants explain (longer) parental leave use by men and women. Furthermore, it analyzes whether, and in which company contexts, men and women experience perceived career setbacks after taking parental leave. The database is qualitative and quantitative data from a supplementary survey to the AID:A II. The third paper investigates the question of the relationship between working from home and work-family conflicts. Specifically, it analyzes whether there are differences according to corporate culture. Based on the LPP-ADIAB, multilevel regressions with occupation fixed effects are estimated separately for men and women. Overall, the dissertation demonstrates gender-specific differences in the challenge of reconciling gainful employment and private obligations. In addition, it points out the necessity of political reforms and the need for action, but also the potential for companies to shape these changes.

En digital arbetsplats har blivit allt vanligare och många företag ger nu anställda möjligheten att arbeta hemifrån, antingen heltid eller deltid. Den snabba ökningen av arbete hemifrån har väckt frågor om hur produktiva anställda är när de arbetar hemifrån jämfört med på kontoret. Företag försöker utveckla strategier för att anpassa sig till det nya arbetssättet. Denna studie syftar till att undersöka de faktorer som påverkar anställdas produktivitet med hjälp av följande forskningsfråga: Vilka faktorer påverkar produktiviteten på en digital arbetsplats? För att kunna besvara forskningsfrågan genomfördes en kvantitativ studie hos elva olika svenskt företag där anställda erbjuds möjlighet att arbeta hemifrån. Genom att samla in data från deltagarna kunde univariata och bivariata analyser genomföras för att identifiera samband mellan olika faktorer och produktiviteten. Resultaten av studien visade att det finns fyra identifierade samband som påverkar produktiviteten vid arbete hemifrån. Dessa samband kategoriseras in i två huvudkategorier: arbetsmiljö och kommunikation. Inom arbetsmiljön identifierades faktorer som tillgång till lämplig teknik och ergonomiska arbetsplatser som är viktiga för att öka produktiviteten. Inom kommunikation framkom betydelsen av tydlig och effektiv kommunikation mellan anställda och ledningen för att upprätthålla produktiviteten på en digital arbetsplats. Genom att förstå dessa faktorer kan företag utveckla strategier för att kunna skapa en effektiv digital arbetsplats. Denna forskning bidrar till kunskapen om produktivitet vid arbete hemifrån och hjälper organisationer att förbättra sin arbetsmiljö vid arbete hemifrån. Ytterligare forskning kan fördjupa förståelsen av de olika faktorerna och identifiera åtgärder för att förbättra produktiviteten på en digital arbetsplats. / A digital workplace has become increasingly common, and many companies are now offering their employees the opportunity to work from home either full-time or part-time. The rapid rise of working from home has raised questions about the productivity of employees when working from home compared to working in the office. Companies are trying to develop strategies to adapt to this new way of working. The purpose of this study is to examine the factors that affect employee productivity based on the following research question: What factors influence productivity in a digital workplace? To answer the research question, a quantitative study was conducted in eleven different Swedish companies where employees are offered the option to work from home. By collecting data from the participants, univariate and bivariate analyzes were conducted to determine correlations between different factors and productivity. The results of the study revealed four identified correlations that influence productivity when working from home. These correlations are categorized into two main categories: workspace environment and communication. Within the workspace environment, factors such as access to appropriate technology and ergonomic workspaces were identified as important for increasing productivity. Within communication, the importance of clear and effective communication between employees and management was revealed to maintain productivity in a digital workplace. By understanding these factors, companies can develop strategies to create an efficient digital workplace. This study contributes to the knowledge of productivity when working from home and helps organizations improve their workspace environment for working from home. Further research can deepen the understanding of the different factors and identify measures to increase productivity in a digital workplace.