Work-life interference and gender in the mining and energy industry

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Accepted Manuscript (AM)
Author(s)
Peetz, David
Murray, Georgina
Muurlink, Olav
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2014
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In the context of the widespread adoption of 12-hour shifts in the male-dominated mining and energy industry, and using data gathered from 2566 unionised mining and energy workers and 1915 partners, we investigate the extent and gendering of work-life interference in that industry. We ask about the ways, if any, in which work-life interference occurs; whether patterns of interference differ between male and female mineworkers; whether patterns of interference differ between mineworkers and their partners; and how working time preferences affect work-life interference among mineworkers and their partners. We find extensive ...
View more >In the context of the widespread adoption of 12-hour shifts in the male-dominated mining and energy industry, and using data gathered from 2566 unionised mining and energy workers and 1915 partners, we investigate the extent and gendering of work-life interference in that industry. We ask about the ways, if any, in which work-life interference occurs; whether patterns of interference differ between male and female mineworkers; whether patterns of interference differ between mineworkers and their partners; and how working time preferences affect work-life interference among mineworkers and their partners. We find extensive interference, mitigated by predictability and 'blocks of time', but these are not enough to offset the impact of the length and rotation of shifts. Gendering takes several forms. The interaction between the domestic and market spheres leads female mine and energy workers to experience greater interference. Long hours and long shifts create significant work-life interference, and part of the burden is shifted to mineworkers' (mostly female) partners, manifested in shortfalls in full-time labour force participation and in stresses upon the partner. We discuss the implications of the findings for policy and practice.
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View more >In the context of the widespread adoption of 12-hour shifts in the male-dominated mining and energy industry, and using data gathered from 2566 unionised mining and energy workers and 1915 partners, we investigate the extent and gendering of work-life interference in that industry. We ask about the ways, if any, in which work-life interference occurs; whether patterns of interference differ between male and female mineworkers; whether patterns of interference differ between mineworkers and their partners; and how working time preferences affect work-life interference among mineworkers and their partners. We find extensive interference, mitigated by predictability and 'blocks of time', but these are not enough to offset the impact of the length and rotation of shifts. Gendering takes several forms. The interaction between the domestic and market spheres leads female mine and energy workers to experience greater interference. Long hours and long shifts create significant work-life interference, and part of the burden is shifted to mineworkers' (mostly female) partners, manifested in shortfalls in full-time labour force participation and in stresses upon the partner. We discuss the implications of the findings for policy and practice.
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Journal Title
Labour & Industry
Volume
24
Issue
4
Copyright Statement
© 2014 Taylor & Francis (Routledge). This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Labour & Industry on 16 Dec 2014, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10301763.2014.978968
Subject
Industrial and employee relations
Human geography
Policy and administration
Sociology not elsewhere classified
Human resources and industrial relations
Strategy, management and organisational behaviour