Most Parents Don’t Clock Out at 3 PM: Debunking a Harmful Workplace Myth
- Brian Page
- May 14, 2025
- 3 min read
The Telegraph recently published an article titled "It's an open secret that parents don't work after 3 pm."
Clickbait? Perhaps, well, more than likely. It certainly got my attention, not because I was interested, but because I was angry.
It's nonsense and counterproductive to solving real problems faced by hard-working families. In fact, the data indicates that many parents, especially those in dual-career households, maintain their professional responsibilities well into the evening.
The 2020 America After 3PM report by the Afterschool Alliance reveals that 81% of parents believe afterschool programs help them keep their jobs, and 83% agree these programs provide peace of mind knowing their children are safe and supervised during after school hours.
Furthermore, research analyzing time use among dual-earner couples during the COVID-19 pandemic found that both mothers and fathers working from home maintained their paid work hours and increased time spent on childcare.
In other words, parents are not only continuing their work responsibilities after traditional school hours but are also balancing additional childcare duties.
The division of household labor remains unequal. Studies indicate that employed mothers spend more time on unpaid work, including childcare and household chores, compared to employed fathers. This imbalance can lead to increased stress and reduced time for paid work, further complicating the work-family balance for parents.
“What’s real is the problem of increased stress and reduced time for paid work, further complicating the work-family balance for parents.”
Five Solutions for Busy Dual-Career Couples
1. Implement the Fair Play System for Equitable Task Distribution
The Fair Play System, developed by Eve Rodsky, offers a structured approach for couples to divide household responsibilities fairly. This method involves identifying all the tasks required to run a household and assigning them so that each partner takes full ownership, from conception to execution, of specific tasks. This clarity helps prevent misunderstandings and ensures that both partners contribute meaningfully to home management.
Related: The Fair Play System: How It Works
2. Schedule Regular 'Money Dates' for Financial Check-Ins
Regularly setting aside time to discuss finances can strengthen a couple's financial partnership. These 'money dates' provide an opportunity to review budgets, discuss upcoming expenses, and align on financial goals in a relaxed setting. Such consistent communication fosters transparency and joint decision-making in financial matters.
Related: What is a Money Date?
3. Recognize and Share the Mental Load
Beyond visible tasks, the 'mental load'—the cognitive effort involved in managing household responsibilities—is often unevenly distributed. Couples should acknowledge this invisible labor and strive to share it equitably. Tools like the Fair Play System can help make the mental load visible and manageable, promoting a more balanced partnership.
4. Understand and Adapt Your Time Management System
Couples often fall into patterns of managing time and tasks that may not be optimal. By assessing whether your current system is female-managed, male-managed, pooled, or independent, you can identify areas for improvement. Striving for a pooled system, where both partners share responsibilities and decision-making, can lead to a more balanced and satisfying partnership.
5. Define Shared Financial Goals and Structures
Establishing clear financial goals and deciding on the structure of your finances—whether joint, separate, or a combination—can prevent conflicts and ensure both partners are aligned. Discussing and agreeing on these aspects fosters trust and cooperation in financial matters.
Your Next Step
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