WORK-LIFE BALANCE OF DUAL-CAREER COUPLES

Abstract

The purpose of this dissertation has been to introduce the concept of a couple-level shared identity as forming the basis for the development of dual-career couples’ strategies regarding involvement in work and family roles, examining career development at the couple-level to understand how the decisions made by one member of the dyad influence the career of the other, identifying how dual career expatriates view their spouses’ roles during international assignments and exploring the career choices and decisions of young professional couples and the strategies that they use to facilitate successful dual careers while attempting to balance their work and non-work lives. The study suggested that organizations cannot view their employees in isolation, but that important transitions such as relocation, and taking on more responsibility are decisions that increasingly are made at the couple level. Employers may need to consider the dyad when offering career advancement opportunities and when implementing work-life balance programs.