Exploring The Effect Of Length Of Time Spent Working From Home On Work-Family Conflict And Sleep Quality During The Covid-19 Pandemic

Many people opinionate that working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic is good for employees’ health and sleep quality because they may have flexible work schedules and can take rests anytime as they want.Is this true? This study is premised on unraveling the effects of working from home during the covid-19 pandemic on work-family conflict and sleep quality and determine the role of family support and gender.Using a quantitative research design and random sampling approach a questionnaire was prepared and administered to the study population who comprised of employees from four companies in Uganda.The questionnaire was distributed through online portals(Whats App and Telegram).A total of 151 questionnaires were shared,144 were completed and the same adopted for the study representing a response rate of 95%.The sample size of 144 was processed and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences(SPSS version 26).The descriptive,correlation analysis,ordinary least square regression,the SPSS Process Macro,and the hierarchical regression was used to determine the direct,mediating,and moderating effects.The outcome of the study showed that length of time spent working from home positively and significantly influence work-family conflict.More so,work-family conflict has a negative and significant effect on sleep quality.Additionally,length of time spent working from home negatively and significantly indirectly influenced sleep quality through work-family conflict.Furthermore,the moderating role of family support and gender on the relationship between length of time spent working from home and work-family conflict was not significant.The outcome of the study implies that the length of time spent working from home can have implications for work-family conflict and sleep quality during the COVID-19 pandemic.To mitigate these challenges,it is important for individuals to establish clear boundaries between work and family life,maintain a regular work schedule,prioritize self-care,and engage in physical activity and exposure to natural light.Organizations can also support their employees by providing resources such as mental health services,flexible work arrangements,and opportunities for social connection.