Flexible work arrangements and family-related outcomes: a narrative systematic review

Flexible work arrangements (FWAs) are increasingly reshaping how work, family, and everyday life are organized, yet evidence of their implications for family life remains fragmented. This narrative systematic review synthesizes findings from 91 quantitative studies to examine how different forms of flexibility influence family-related outcomes. Findings are synthesized using three established analytical categories: (a) temporal versus spatial flexibility, (b) gendered patterns of work and care, and (c) boundary management. Temporal flexibility (e.g. flexi-time, compressed workweeks) consistently supported more sustainable coordination of work and family responsibilities, and was associated with lower work–family conflict, improved balance, and more positive relational outcomes. In contrast, spatial flexibility (e.g. telework, work-from-home) produced more uneven effects, often intensifying boundary blurring, parenting strain, and role overload when organizational supports were limited and workloads remained high. These effects were strongly gendered: mothers experienced disproportionate increases in unpaid labour and strain, while fathers’ caregiving involvement remained partial and context-dependent. Overall, FWAs are context-dependent practices that can either support or exacerbate inequalities, depending on how flexibility is structured within organizational, household, and broader social contexts.