The Long Arm of an Unsupportive Work-Family Culture in Work Organizations: Crossover to the Partner’s Work-Family Balance Satisfaction in Dual-Earner Couples

Abstract This study analyzes how an unsupportive organizational work-family culture experienced by one employed parent at work can cross over to their partner and reduce the latter’s satisfaction with balance (WFBS). Workplace cultures that are structured around “ideal worker” norm have enormous often detrimental impacts on parents’ abilities manage family roles. Drawing crossover theory, we argue these kinds of adverse consequences, not only for working parents but also partners. We hypothesize if experiences culture, they provide less instrumental emotional support other partner, which reduces partner’s WFBS. use a unique dataset 556 dual-earner couples young children surveyed in Germany 2015 perform multivariate regression analysis structural equation modelling. find robust evidence mothers were satisfied fathers reported organization. There was weak evidence, however, between mother’s workplace father’s Mediation suggests associations transmitted part through reduced support, whereas did appear play role. The findings lend argument parent’s