When work and family collide, job flexibility helps shape who adjusts

During the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of working parents faced unprecedented challenges as schools closed and child care services became unavailable. For dual-earner couples, the crisis raised a pressing question: whose job would need to adjust to accommodate family responsibilities? A new study reveals that the answer was not solely determined by financial contributions or traditional roles within the household. Instead, the characteristics of each partner’s job, such as schedule flexibility and the criticality of their responsibilities, played a central role in shaping these decisions. Led by Kristen Shockley of Auburn University and co-authored by Eden King of Rice University, the research titled “Dual-Earner Couples' Job Characteristic Discrepancies: Implications for Within-Dyad Relative Work Adjustment During COVID-19” examines how couples managed work and family demands during the pandemic. Published in Personnel Psychology, the study analyzed real-time decisions made by dual-earner couples with young children. These decisions occurred in a unique context: nearly all such couples were suddenly required to adjust their work arrangements due to the sudden unavailability of child care. “We wanted to understand how couples navigate decisions about who should make short-term adjustments in their work schedules to accommodate family needs,” King explained. The early months of the pandemic presented a rare opportunity to observe these dynamics unfold in real time. Unlike previous studies that relied on hypothetical scenarios or retrospective accounts, this research captured actual decision-making processes as they happened. The study identified two key job characteristics that influenced these choices: schedule flexibility and job role indispensability. Schedule flexibility refers to how easily a worker could alter their hours or work remotely. Indispensability relates to how essential a person’s job was considered to be. Couples evaluated both partners’ jobs based on these criteria, rather than focusing on just one individual’s circumstances. “Individuals' decisions to prioritize family needs above work needs depended on the flexibility and indispensability of both their own and their spouse's jobs,” King noted. This suggests that the decision-making process was comparative, involving a direct evaluation of both partners’ professional situations. Household income, while often a factor in family-related decisions, did not fully determine which partner adjusted their work schedule. Even after accounting for financial contributions, the study found that job characteristics remained a stronger predictor of adjustment behavior. This finding highlights the complexity of work-family negotiations, which go beyond monetary considerations. The research also sheds light on the persistent gender disparities in work-family decision-making. While women were more likely to make personal sacrifices for family needs, the study indicates that this pattern is not solely attributable to gender. Instead, it appears to stem from differences in job characteristics between men and women. “The effect of job characteristics on adjustments did not vary by gender,” King emphasized. “It seems that differences in men's and women's job characteristics are contributing to gendered decisions about families.” These daily compromises can have lasting effects. The study found that making frequent work adjustments appeared to negatively impact women’s relationship satisfaction, potentially due to the psychological strain of consistently adapting their careers to meet family needs. This underscores the importance of recognizing the emotional and relational costs associated with such decisions. The findings carry broader implications for employers and policymakers seeking to address work-life balance challenges. By understanding how job characteristics influence work-family negotiations, organizations may develop more equitable policies that support all employees, regardless of gender or role. As the research demonstrates, the intersection of work and family is complex, and solutions must account for the diverse realities of modern dual-earner households.