Empowerment or enslavement: The impact of technology-driven work intrusions on work-life balance

Information and communication technology (ICT) tools have become an integral component of our lives, enabling individuals to seamlessly cross the work/life border with minimal effort. This paper examines the mechanisms through which work-related ICT use beyond worktime (Wk_ICT) impacts work-life balance (WLB) through four mediator paths: work-to-life conflict, life-to-work conflict, work-to-life enrichment, and life-to-work enrichment. Data from 423 professionals from Canada was analyzed using the multiple mediation approach with bootstrapping using the PROCESS add-on to SPSS. The results allude to a possible downward spiralling effect of diminishing WLB resulting from excessive work ICT use beyond worktime. The findings add to the literature by empirically demonstrating the mechanisms by which Wk_ICT impact WLB through cross-domain conflict and enrichment.