Family Income Differences in Work-Family Spillover

Enilda A. Delgado, University of Wisconsin at La Crosse
Donna Anderson, University of Wisconsin at La Crosse

This study adds to a growing literature on the work/life issues facing workers by examining the differences between high-income workers and low-income workers in negative spillover from work to family. Using data from the 1997 National Study of the Changing Workforce, we test the hypothesis that although workers of differing income levels experience work/life conflict, the nature of the conflict depends on differences in access to employee benefits that facilitate work/life balance. We find support for past research that reveals low-income workers are less likely to have access to important work/life policies, including employer-paid health insurance, and paid time-off for vacations, holidays, and personal illness. Characteristics of the workplace mediate the effects of lack of benefits, but only for low-income workers. Further, with respect to working conditions, the amount of autonomy on the job significantly reduces negative spillover for low-income workers, while workplace culture influences spillover for high-income workers.