Work from home and shifting perceptions of career prospects among employees with children: the role of work- and family-related contexts

Purpose This study examines how individual work- and family-related circumstances shape the relationship between working from home and self-perceived changes in career prospects among employed parents, more than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic. We particularly investigate how prior experience with work from home (WFH), occupational status and the intensity of family demands moderate this relationship. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on several theories, including role conflict and competing demands frameworks, we formulate five hypotheses, which we test using a large multi-country dataset and fixed effects multinomial regression models. The data come from representative samples of working parents with dependent children in Canada, Germany, Italy, Poland, Sweden and the United States, collected in mid-2021. Findings The findings show that parents who worked from home both before and during the pandemic were more likely to report positive changes to their career prospects, especially men and those in managerial or professional positions. However, these positive associations are contingent on favourable family contexts: they are evident primarily among parents living with a partner and those whose children were not at home for extended periods. In contrast, mothers who began WFH during the pandemic, particularly those living alone or managing prolonged childcare duties, were more likely to report worsened career prospects. Originality/value This study advances the literature by highlighting the intersectional and gendered nature of perceived career changes during the pandemic. It shows that the professional benefits of WFH are not universally shared but depend critically on pre-existing work arrangements and family responsibilities. The findings point to the importance of designing context-sensitive career development strategies in increasingly hybrid work environments.