Perceptions of work-on-family conflict among correctional officers in Germany

For correctional officers the work–family conflict (WFC) is particularly challenging due to the demanding working conditions in a potentially stressful and violent environment. Although academic research has devoted considerable effort to investigating the consequences of working in prisons and has documented a range of negative work-related outcomes, there has been little qualitative research looking into the subjective perspectives, emotions, and burdens of prison officers’ everyday lives. The present paper therefore examines how prison officers perceive this conflict through focus group discussions and problem-centred interviews with female and male prison officers in Germany. The empirical material for this contribution was collected in a state prison for men between December 2023 and February 2024. Our findings reveal that time-based tensions emerge primarily from the unpredictable rhythms of shift work and the imposition of mandatory overtime, both of which interfere with everyday family life and intimate partnerships. Strain-based challenges, meanwhile, are deeply rooted in the emotional and social toll of correctional work—described by many as increasingly volatile, due in part to heightened inmate drug use and a perceived escalation in violence and aggression within facilities. Finally, behavioural conflict arises as officers struggle to navigate the transition between the authoritative, hypervigilant stance demanded by the prison environment and the relational role expected in family life. This role conflict often gives rise to feelings of emotional withdrawal, and for some, a quiet detachment from their home worlds.