Where is the missing piece of the work-family conflict? The work-[pet]family conflict

ABSTRACT

The importance of work-family conflict has been recognised for both personal and organisational outcomes. However, so far, the inclusion of pets under the umbrella of work-family conflict has been largely ignored. Considering the increasing relevance of pets for modern families, it is time to define a new concept that is rising: the work-pet-family conflict. This theoretical manuscript seeks to explain the rise of work-[pet]family conflict and to define it. It also highlights how work-[pet]family conflict should be studied in the future and its importance to deepen the understating of the intersection between pets and organisational practices.

KEYWORDS:

• pets
• human-animal interactions
• pet-friendly practices
• work-[pet]family conflict

Acknowledgements

The author dedicates this manuscript to her dog friends Kitty and Jarbas, and also to Devil whose presence still inspires the author.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, grant UIDB/00315/2020.