Family matters at work : Depleting and enriching effects of employees' family lives on work outcomes

Abstract

Juggling work and family life has become a daily topic of conversation. As more women enter the workforce and as men increasingly take on household chores and childcare duties, it has become more likely that employees are combining work and a considerable number of family responsibilities. The impact of working on family life has been widely discussed in the media, in research, and at home. Less attention has been paid to the question how family life affects work. Do employees with heavy family demands perform worse than single, childless employees? Or can family life also contribute to success at work? This study aims to illuminate both the beneficial and harmful effects of employees’ family lives on work outcomes. Six empirical studies unravel which aspects of family life (e.g. having a partner, children, and performing family tasks) improve and which aspects impede work outcomes. Two datasets of more than 500 employees from various Dutch organizations are used to answer the research questions. The results of this study provide useful information for employers and employees who seek to balance work and family life.