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Why helping power couples helps companies
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When mom outearns dad. New moms spend more time on housework than their spouses do, but when a woman is the family’s primary breadwinner, she takes on even more, finds a recent study. As a mom’s salary increases to 50% of the household income, her weekly hours spent on household chores fall from 18 to 14. But after outearning her husband, a woman’s housework increases to about 16 hours weekly. Men who are primary breadwinners spend six to eight hours weekly on domestic labor, and less than that when outearned by their wives. [WaPo] |
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Possibilities and pitfalls. Dual-career couples (DCCs) have always been torn between the competing demands of work and home. But the COVID-19 pandemic has opened up new opportunities and potential pitfalls for dual-income couples. Working remotely enables both partners to tap into a wider job market. In addition, with many employers struggling to fill roles, workers are better able to push for flexible schedules. However, some employers are sharing concerns that hybrid work could hinder women, since they often perform more domestic work than men. [FT] |
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The struggle is real. According to a McKinsey survey of more than 35,000 workers, 89% of women and 70% of men are part of a couple in which both partners have jobs. Employees in DCCs can often struggle to find career fulfillment because the constant juggling of responsibilities between home and two demanding careers can be overwhelming, especially when children are in the mix. That may be why employees in DCCs are less likely than those in single-career couples (SCCs) to report being happy with their jobs.
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Dual ambition. Employees in DCCs generally have more career ambition than those in SCCs, McKinsey research finds. When compared with their SCC peers, more people in DCCs say they are eager to be promoted and aspire to become a top executive. When companies have policies that support employees in DCCs, workers and their employers benefit. Employees tend to be more loyal when they have flexible schedules, which may reduce turnover and hiring costs. Learn what actions companies can take to help DCCs thrive.
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| — Edited by Belinda Yu |
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