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Forced to Work from Home: Division of Unpaid Work between Parents and the Relation to Job Satisfaction

Author

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  • Maria Helena Santos

    (Iscte - Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Cis-Iscte, 1649-026 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Miriam Rosa

    (Iscte - Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Cis-Iscte, 1649-026 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Rita B. Correia

    (Institute of Social Sciences of the University of Lisbon (ICS-IUL), 1600-189 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Jéssica Ramos

    (Iscte - Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, 1649-026 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Ana Catarina Carvalho

    (Iscte - Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, 1649-026 Lisbon, Portugal)

Abstract

This study investigates the division of household chores and caregiving tasks during the COVID-19 pandemic, considering the influence of participants’ sex, work arrangement, and parental status. Additionally, it aims to understand the relationship of these variables with job satisfaction. Specifically, this study analyses the role of participants’ sex and parental status in the increase and division of unpaid work and investigates the roles of sex, work arrangements (namely telework and on-site work), and the division of unpaid work in job satisfaction. These variables were measured and analyzed with a sample of 268 workers in Portugal (57.8% of whom were teleworking) during pandemic lockdowns. Taken together, the results suggest that despite prepandemic advances in gender equality and despite men and women perceiving an increase in their domestic workload during lockdowns, there were significant inequalities between men and women in the division of unpaid work. These were intensified for couples with young children and were not mitigated by changes in work arrangements such as telework. For women, the lack of sharing in caregiving tasks while teleworking decreased their job satisfaction. For them, the lack of sharing of caregiving tasks moderates the relationship between work arrangements and job satisfaction. The same was not true for men. Despite the optimistic view that telework might promote a more equal sharing of unpaid work, this study shows that unpaid work is still mostly performed by women, with important consequences for the paid work sphere.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Helena Santos & Miriam Rosa & Rita B. Correia & Jéssica Ramos & Ana Catarina Carvalho, 2023. "Forced to Work from Home: Division of Unpaid Work between Parents and the Relation to Job Satisfaction," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-22, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:12:y:2023:i:10:p:539-:d:1247453
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Russell, Helen & Grotti, Raffaele & McGinnity, Fran & Privalko, Ivan, 2019. "Caring and unpaid work in Ireland," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number BKMNEXT382.
    3. Ariane Pailhé & Anne Solaz & Maria Letizia Tanturri, 2019. "The Time Cost of Raising Children in Different Fertility Contexts: Evidence from France and Italy," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 35(2), pages 223-261, May.
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