2019-20 coronavirus outbreak

Engineering

Social psychology

Public relations

Virology

Personal protective equipment

Visual arts

Status quo

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)

Outbreak

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Mechanical engineering

Personal life

Psychology

Harmony (color)

Absenteeism

Political science

Work (physics)

Infectious disease (medical specialty)

Work–life balance

Coronavirus Infections

Medicine

Pandemic

Disease

Pathology

Global Business and Organizational Excellence

International assignments tend to be a turbulent time for expatriates, as they bring about changes in the two main spheres of their lives: personal and work. Although work‐life interface is a challenge among expatriates it can also be a work‐life harmony. Here, we present the findings of how expatriates work‐day life changed while performing overseas tasks during the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic and analyze how this new status quo may influence future expatriates' expectations regarding their work‐life interface. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 12 expatriates. Results show that although since the beginning of the quarantine, personal life is interfering in work, causing work‐life conflict, the role of the expatriates' family positively impacted their work‐life balance, and harmony. We suggest some recommendations to human resource managers and conclude that the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on expatriates can be a pathway to work‐life harmony, where work and life are seen as an integrative domain, rather than competing ones.

The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on expatriates: A pathway to work‐life harmony?