When family considerations influence work decisions: Decision-making processes

The work–family literature has provided an abundance of evidence that various family factors are linked to various work decisions, suggesting that the “family-relatedness” of work decisions is a prevalent phenomenon (Greenhaus & Powell, 2012). However, the cognitive processes by which such linkages occur have received little attention. We offer a framework by which to examine individuals' decision-making processes when they take family considerations into account in their work decisions. The framework suggests stages through which individuals proceed when making a work decision that takes family considerations into account and cognitive processes that influence how they proceed through each stage.

► An abundance of evidence has linked various family factors to various work decisions.
► A theory of the decision-making processes by which such linkages occur is lacking.
► We offer a conceptual framework of how family considerations influence work decisions.
► We identify stages through which individuals proceed when making such decisions.
► We identify processes that influence how individuals proceed through each stage.