ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the nature of work-family decision-making by employees and also by families, organizations, and societies. Employees may make three general types of decisions in either their work role or their family role role entry, participation, and exit decisions. Decisions in one's work role may be made solely for work-related reasons, and decisions in one's family role may be made solely for family-related reasons. Work-family conflict occurs when simultaneous pressures arising from work and family roles are mutually incompatible such that participation in one role makes it more difficult to participate effectively in the other role. Because work-family decisions can improve well-being at home and/or at work by virtue of reducing work-family conflict or increasing work-family enrichment, they enhance employees' sense of work-family balance. Work organizations vary widely in how extensively and in what manner they support their employees' efforts to meet work and family responsibilities.
