Union-represented parents were less likely to lose their jobs during the pandemic but worked fewer hours

Union-represented parents were less likely to have lost their jobs after the outbreak and more likely to be employed in July 2021. They were also more likely to have experienced a reduction in working hours. The findings suggest a possible trade-off between maintaining employment and maintaining working hours during a severe economic crisis.

Flexible work and leave policies

Work-life balance policies accounted for part of the association between union representation and employment outcomes. Access to workplace flexibility accounted for 17% of the association between union representation and job loss, while use of workplace flexibility accounted for 15%. The use of COVID-related leave was also associated with employment outcomes.

According to the authors, the findings highlight the potential importance of collective bargaining and workplace policies in helping workers stay employed while managing family responsibilities during times of crisis. They emphasize leave rights and employee-driven flexible work arrangements as important tools for job retention.

About the study

The research was conducted by Cassandra Engeman at the Swedish Institute for Social Research (SOFI), together with Richard J. Petts, Shirley Gatenio Gabel and Gayle Kaufman, and is published in Community, Work & Family. It is based on a survey of 1,402 working parents in the United States, conducted in July 2021. The researchers distinguished between different forms of employment disruption, including job loss, quitting and reduced working hours.

Read the full article:

Family economic security after the COVID-19 outbreak: unions, work-life balance policies and employment outcomes, Community, Work & Family (2026).