Examining the antecedents of working after hours among teleworkers : a scoping review protocol

Abstract

There has been a significant rise in telework since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Telework offers several benefits, such as greater flexibility and increased productivity. It also presents challenges such as increased after-hours work, which can negatively impact workers' physical and mental wellbeing. This scoping review aims to identify the antecedents of after-hours work among teleworkers. Online databases, including Medline via OVID, Embase via OVID, APA PsycINFO via OVID, International Bibliography of Social Sciences (IBSS) via ProQuest, Sociological Abstracts via ProQuest, Business Source Premier via EBSCOhost, and CINAHL via EBSCOhost will be searched to gather literature on factors affecting after-hours work among teleworkers. The inclusion criteria include study participants aged 18 or older, part of the working population, and individuals teleworking for at least six months. Additionally, the studies must be empirical, peer-reviewed, discuss the antecedents of after-hours work, and be published from 2010 to 2024. The findings from this study will guide organisations and healthcare professionals in developing strategies to reduce after-hours work among individuals who telework, thereby improving their overall health and wellbeing. The registration number for this scoping review on Open Science is (DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/6A7M9).