New-Concept Part-Time Employment as a Work-Family Adaptive Strategy for Women Professionals with Small Children

Authors: Jeffrey Hill E.; Märtinson V.; Ferris M.

Source: Family Relations, Volume 53, Number 3, April 2004 , pp. 282-292(11)

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Abstract:

This study investigates how the option for new-concept part-time (NPT) employment influences the ability of mothers of preschool children working in professional occupations to successfully integrate work and family responsibilities. Female NPT professionals (n = 279) and female full-time (FT) professionals (n = 250) were compared. The NPT group reported 20 fewer weekly work hours and about $18,000 less estimated annual household income than the FT group. They allocated this additional time primarily to caring for and nurturing their dependent children. They also reported less job-related travel, unnecessary work, and work-to-family conflict, as well as greater work-family success, childcare satisfaction, and family success. However, NPT mothers reported a more traditional division of labor in household responsibilities and less career opportunity and work success. Implications are presented and discussed.

Keywords: employment; family; job flexibility; professional women; work

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0022-2445.2004.0004.x

Publication date: 2004-04-01