Role Interference

Role interference occurs when conflicting demands make it difficult for individuals to fulfill the requirements of multiple roles (i.e. role of worker, parent, and spouse). According to Duxbury and Higgins, role interference has two distinct components: family interferes with work and work interferes with family. The former occurs when family role responsibilities hinder performance in the workplace (e.g., staying home from work to look after a sick child); the latter when work role activities (e.g. working long hours) impede performance of family responsibilities (e.g., house chores, time with spouse and children).

Work Interferes with Family

According to the 2001 Duxbury and Higgins study, one-third (32 percent) of professional employees in Canada report that their work responsibilities interfere with their ability to meet their responsibilities at home. Professional employees in Quebec are less likely to say their work demands interfere with their ability to meet family demands - 25 percent report high interference between work and family.

Employees in Quebec Report
Lower Work Interferes with Family

Family Interferes with Work

Only 10 percent of professional employees in Canada report high levels of family interference with work. In other words, fewer workers met their family demands at the expense of work commitments. There is little regional variation in this respect, underscoring the prevalence of the idea across Canada that work should take priority over family.

Little Regional Differences in Family Interference with Work

According to Duxbury and Higgins, twice as many Canadian workers gave family priority over work in 2001, as did a decade earlier. They attribute the rise in family interference with work to increased eldercare responsibilities faced by many workers. As the Canadian population continues to age, eldercare responsibilities will no doubt continue to grow as an issue for Canadian workers.

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