Despite major changes in the labour-force characteristics over the past three
decades, resulting in significantly more women not only working but pursuing
careers, employers have frequently failed to address the organizational
implications of these trends. As dual-career couples become more prevalent,
employees' conflicting demands of home and work are exacerbated when both
partners strive for upward career progression, and the resulting pressures may
adversely affect their work performance, since home and work cannot be
compartmentalized. Employers should now face the reality of structural changes
in the workforce, and acknowledge the conflicting loyalties facing dual-career
couples juggling multiple demands. More flexible employer responses to the work/
home interface have been shown to achieve more effective utilization of human
resources, generating both individual and organizational benefits.
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