White-collar employees globally are more likely than ever to be part of a household where both partners work full time. And this story is only becoming more common – 78% of millennials in the US are in a “dual career couple” compared to baby boomers at 47%.
While partners are becoming more egalitarian, women in heterosexual dual career couples – with or without children – still do most of the household/care work and are more willing to prioritize their partner’s career over their own. On top of this, workplaces have been built on a breadwinner format that makes “having it all” a myth for the vast majority of women, in particular. Furthermore, all individuals in dual career couples may experience stress, conflict and time constraints resulting from managing both work and life/family responsibilities, which can be exacerbated by jobs that require travel, temporary relocation and/or permanent relocation.
Employees in dual career couples are not a homogenous group so it is key to understand challenges and inclusive solutions for employees of different identities – including gender, sexual orientation, disability status, race, ethnicity and socio-economic status.
