Overworked or Underloved?

Abstract

This thesis explores an aspect of the work-family conflict by researching the impact of overtime work on divorce rates for high-income occupations. The work-family conflict refers to the conflict that exists within a relationship when work impedes on key, familial responsibilities. Overtime work is an example of this phenomenon, as increased time at the office can act as a catalyst for tension at home. I define overtime work by studying the usual hours worked in a week for individuals, and I specifically study various high-earning occupations to see how additional overtime work affects divorce rates. By analyzing ACS data from 2012-2019, I find that increased overtime hours tend to negatively impact divorce rates. Further, I find that this impact exists primarily in positions that work numerous overtime hours per week, whereas the effect is marginal for those who work limited overtime hours.