Abstract

Perceptions of work–family balance and of the reasonableness of tenure expectations are key faculty retention factors. Using a national job satisfaction survey with 2438 tenure-track assistant professors, we explore whether faculty assessment of departmental and institutional support for family–work balance and their satisfaction with family-friendly policies influence their perceptions of the reasonableness of tenure expectations. We pay attention to the importance of gender in our models. Results reveal that women are less likely than men to report tenure expectations as scholars are reasonable and that departments and institutions are supportive of family–work balance. Departmental support for family–work balance, caring for an ill family member, satisfaction with family-friendly policies, and workload have the strongest association with reasonableness. Satisfaction with family-friendly policies has a significant relationship with reasonableness of tenure expectations only for faculty with family care responsibilities. Implications for family-friendly policies and practices in academia are discussed.

摘要

对工作与家庭平衡的看法以及对任期期望的合理性是关键的教师保留因素。通过与2438位终身制助理教授进行的全国工作满意度调查，我们探讨了教职员工对部门和机构对家庭工作平衡的支持的评估以及他们对家庭友好政策的满意度是否会影响他们对任期期望的合理性的看法。我们在模型中注意性别的重要性。结果表明，由于学者是合理的，而且女性各部门和机构支持家庭与工作的平衡，因此女性比男性报告任期期望的可能性要小。部门对家庭工作平衡的支持，照顾生病的家庭成员，对家庭友好政策的满意度，工作量与合理性之间的关联最强。对家庭友善政策的满意与任期期望的合理性有很大关系，仅对负责家庭照顾责任的教师有效。讨论了学术界对家庭友好的政策和做法的影响。