Decoding the paradox: The effects of gendered perceptions of time on sustainable hybrid work

Abstract Hybrid work arrangements are frequently promoted—yet increasingly contested—as pivotal to a sustainable workforce future, as they can challenge and dismantle traditional gender roles by providing opportunities for greater work–life balance, shared caregiving responsibilities and flexibility that can benefit everyone. Yet, their transformative potential is not uniformly realized, a disparity intricately linked to deeply ingrained gendered perceptions of time that paradoxically undermine the very sustainability they promise. This integrative literature review systematically synthesizes fragmented research on hybrid and remote work, gender and sustainable work scholarship, positioning time as the central analytical construct that connects these literatures. We introduce and elaborate on four critical paradoxes—flexibility, visibility, work–life integration and inclusion, which illuminate the complex and often contradictory ways in which gendered temporal biases shape experiences and outcomes in hybrid work. By underscoring time as a socially valued and normatively judged mechanism, rather than treating equity as a starting point, this paper offers substantive theoretical advances by challenging existing assumptions about time and work. It explains why flexibility alone is insufficient to deliver enduring and inclusive outcomes. It provides actionable insights for scholars, policymakers and practitioners to foster truly gender‐inclusive, sustainable hybrid work environments throughout the life course.