Purpose

This study aims to explore the gender differences in working from home (WFH) experiences during the pandemic from the Australia’s construction workforce perspective. Specifically, it explores gender differences in terms of: (1) the respondents’ family responsibilities during the pandemic; (2) their WFH experiences prior to and during the pandemic; and (3) their perceptions of the impacts of challenges associated with WFH on their work activities and performance along with their self-reported work performance when WFH, overall satisfaction with WFH and preference for WFH post-COVID.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a survey design to reach the targeted sample population, i.e. construction workforce in the Australian construction industry who has had experienced WFH during the pandemic. Data was collected using an online anonymous questionnaire survey.

Findings

The results show notable gender differences in various aspects including family responsibilities, workplace arrangements and perceptions of the impacts of the challenges associated with WFH on work activities and performance. Also, statistically significant associations are detected between gender and the respondents’ self-reported work performance when WFH, overall satisfaction with WFH and preference for WFH post-COVID.

Originality/value

Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, little is known about WFH experiences among construction workforce due to the low prevalence of regular and planned remote working in the industry. This is the first study sheds light on construction workforce WFH experiences using gender lenses. The findings have implications for construction-related firms continuing with WFH arrangement post the pandemic, which may include the formulation of policy responses to re-optimize their present WFH practices.

中文翻译：

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COVID-19 大流行期间在家工作和性别差异：澳大利亚建筑工人的案例

目的

本研究旨在从澳大利亚建筑工人的角度探讨疫情期间在家工作（WFH）经历的性别差异。具体而言，它探讨了以下方面的性别差异：（1）受访者在疫情期间的家庭责任； (2) 他们在疫情之前和期间在家办公的经历； (3) 他们对与在家办公相关的挑战对其工作活动和绩效的影响的看法，以及他们在家办公时自我报告的工作绩效、对在家办公的总体满意度以及在新冠疫情后对在家办公的偏好。

设计/方法论/途径

本研究采用了一项调查设计，以覆盖目标样本人群，即在大流行期间经历过在家办公的澳大利亚建筑行业的建筑工人。通过在线匿名问卷调查收集数据。

发现

结果显示，在家庭责任、工作场所安排以及对在家办公相关挑战对工作活动和绩效的影响的看法等各个方面存在显着的性别差异。此外，还发现性别与受访者在家办公时自我报告的工作表现、对在家办公的整体满意度以及在新冠疫情后对在家办公的偏好之间存在统计上显着的关联。

原创性/价值

即使在 COVID-19 大流行之前，由于该行业定期和计划远程工作的普及率较低，人们对建筑工人在家办公的经历知之甚少。这是第一项使用性别视角揭示建筑工人在家办公经历的研究。研究结果对疫情后继续实行在家办公安排的建筑相关公司具有影响，其中可能包括制定政策应对措施以重新优化其目前的在家办公做法。