The (over)burden of work

This chapter develops an understanding of increasing work pressures by using the term ‘work (over) burden’ to explain both work intensification and extensification. It explores how the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the work burden. It sets out conceptually and with a range of empirical examples, the nature of work intensification and extensification and how they have developed through changes brought about to accommodate home-based working during the pandemic. It then explores the gendered nature of some of these changes. The chapter concludes by considering some of the longer-term implications for the (over) burden of work.