Achieving work–family balance among Spanish managers and their spouses: a demands–control perspective

Abstract

Using a demands–control perspective and data from 103 manager–spouse couples, this paper examines how job control neutralizes the negative effects of managers' job demands on their contributions to housework as rated by their spouses. We hypothesized that managers' contribution to housework chores would be positively associated with spousal rating of family satisfaction. Our empirical evidence showed that managers with frequent business trips were less cooperative in housework and that this association was moderated by the extent of job control. In turn, managers' cooperation in housework was positively related to spouses' family satisfaction. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for attracting and retaining managerial talent.

Keywords:

• family satisfaction
• household labor
• job control
• managers' job demands
• work–family balance

Acknowledgements

This paper was supported by a grant from the Peri-Instituto de Empresa Chair of Leadership. This study has been partially funded by a Research Grant from the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain, #ECO2009-12952.