Working from home, gendered divisions of labor and subjective time pressure: A cross-spousal analysis
Melbourne Institute Working Paper No. 14/26
Date: September 2026
Author(s):
Abstract
This study examines how working from home (WFH) shapes time allocation, divisions of labor, and subjective time pressure within dual-earner couples. Using high-quality longitudinal panel data from Australian couples, we analyse the joint effects of partners’ WFH arrangements, distinguishing impacts by intensity and frequency of home-based work. Results from family fixed-effect models reveal that short-hours WFH is associated with increased paid work for both partners, higher total workloads, and elevated time stress. In contrast, high-intensity WFH redistributes unpaid labour more equitably when men work from home, modestly alleviating women’s time pressure, but is largely concentrated among men with high job autonomy. Gendered effects are pronounced: women’s workloads and time stress respond to both their own and their partner’s WFH, whereas men’s outcomes are largely unaffected by their partner’s arrangements. Overall, WFH does not systematically narrow gender gaps in couples; its effects depend critically on relative WFH intensity between partners.