# Who scales back at work

**Which of us should cut back at work after the baby?**

Which of you will reduce hours, step back or change jobs to make family life work, and by what rule: lower earner, more flexible job, both a little, or neither.

In short: Parents choose between 5 main approaches: Lower earner; Whoever has more flexibility; Both a little; Neither, outsource; Take turns by career phase. Evidence: your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide. Best settled: during pregnancy.

- Area: Roles, work and the couple
- Evidence: Your call
- Best settled: During pregnancy
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/roles-work-and-the-couple--who-scales-back-at-work

## Who scales back at work: what are the options?

1. **Lower earner**: Whoever earns less reduces hours or steps back.
2. **Whoever has more flexibility**: Whoever's job bends more easily takes on more at home.
3. **Both a little**: Each of you cuts back somewhat.
4. **Neither, outsource**: Neither of you cuts back; you pay for care and help.
5. **Take turns by career phase**: You swap who steps back as each career goes through busy and quiet periods.

## Who scales back at work: what does the evidence say?

**Your call.** No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide.

Flexibility is what couples actually use (70% call it a major factor); employment diverges sharply for mothers after a first child

Sources:

- [Pew](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2026/06/16/how-working-parents-divide-family-responsibilities/)
- [NBER](https://www.nber.org/papers/w31649)

## What else is worth knowing?

When there is too much to do, something gives, and it is usually someone's working hours. Choosing by rule, such as flexibility or earnings, is different from letting it fall on whoever objects least. It is worth revisiting as jobs and children change.

## Questions to ask each other

- If one of us needed to cut back, how would we decide who and for how long?
- What would cutting back cost each of us, in money and in how we feel about ourselves?
- Would we want to revisit this at set times?

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General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=roles-work-and-the-couple&topic=roles-work-and-the-couple--who-scales-back-at-work