Abstract:

Although the concept of sustainability has been traditionally applied to protection of the natural environment, it has been extended in recent years to the study of careers. Career sustainability may be defined as the extent to which an individual experiences happiness, health, and productivity (HHP) at work over the course of the career. However, the role of gender in individuals’ having a sustainable career has not been systematically examined in the literature on career sustainability to date. In this paper, we review gender differences in selected aspects of career experiences – hours worked, part-time work, virtual work from home, and voluntary employment gaps and parental leaves – and their implications for career sustainability. Our review suggests that women are at a disadvantage in establishing relatively high levels of HHP at work and maintaining these levels over time, thereby restricting their career sustainability. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Please choose your submission type: Developmental Paper

Primary Track: Gender in Management

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Jeffrey Greenhaus