The Work-Family Interface in Australia

This chapter outlines the major contextual conditions affecting the work-family (W-F) interface in Australia, including demographics and the household, women and work, the intersection of work and family, and legal changes over time. It also outlines that Australian research pertinent to work and family conflict (WFC) is summarized in terms of antecedents and various causal models, as well as limited studies of W-F enhancement. By the turn of the 21st century, the Australian government had put in place few explicit legislative mechanisms to reduce WFC. In terms of industry, H. Lingard and V. Francis, found that men construction employees working on-site reported significantly higher levels of WIF conflict than those located at a regional or head office, but that no such differences exist for women. Relatedly, Lingard et al. found that the combination of high work time demands and work time control in the construction industry contributed to W-F enrichment.