Telework, the Timing of Work, and Instantaneous Well-Being: Evidence from Time Use Data

José Ignacio Gimenez-Nadal (), José Alberto Molina and Jorge Velilla ()
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José Ignacio Gimenez-Nadal: University of Zaragoza
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Jose Ignacio Gimenez-Nadal ()

No 11271, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: In this paper, we analyze the time allocation decisions of teleworkers, and compare them with their commuter counterparts. Using data from the American Time Use Survey for the years 2003 to 2015, we analyze the time spent working, the timing of work, and the instant enjoyment experienced while working, of teleworkers and commuters. Results show that teleworkers devote 40% less time to market work activities than do commuters, and less than 60% of both male and female teleworkers work at 'regular hours', vs around 80% of similar commuters. A higher percentage of teleworkers than commuters are engaged in leisure and non-market work at the central hours of the day. Using additional information from the Well-being Module for the years 2012 and 2013, we find that male teleworkers experience higher levels of satisfaction while working than do commuters, net of differences in socio-demographic and job characteristics. Our results point towards male telecommuters being happier in their job tasks than commuters, which may lead to a higher productivity of the former, and explains why teleworkers are able to work fewer hours per day.

Keywords: instantaneous well-being; market work time; telework; American Time Use Survey (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D13 J22 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 38 pages
Date: 2018-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hap and nep-lma
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

Published - published as 'Work time and well-being for workers at home: evidence from th American Time Use Survey' in: International Journal of Manpower, 2020, 41 (2), 184-206

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