The Triple Shift Explained

What is it and why is it relevant for women?

Triple shift  refers to when women juggle caregiving, spousal duties, and professional obligations. Originally coined in 1995 by sociologists Duncombe and Marsden, this phenomenon remains relevant to contemporary society. In 2024, working women in the UK spent an average of 57 minutes more than men each day on unpaid tasks, such as housework and caregiving.  

Impacts of The Triple Shift: 

The triple shift divides a woman’s time and energy among multiple roles, leaving less time for career-enhancing activities like networking, skills training, mentorships, sponsorships, or taking on extra projects. This limits a woman's visibility and access to career-advancing opportunities, leading to fewer promotions and stunted career growth. 

Balancing three sets of responsibilities increases physical and mental exhaustion, leading to higher burnout rates among women than men. This can be observed through a Future Forum research published in 2023, 46% of women reported higher levels of burnout than men (37%). 

Chronic stress and exhaustion lower productivity and performance, which may negatively impact a woman's reputation at work and reduce her chances for progression. 

Women facing the triple shift are more likely to work part-time or in flexible roles that, while accommodating family needs, often pay less and provide fewer chances for advancement. 

Even when women remain in full-time positions, the triple shift can slow their advancement, contributing to pay gaps and reduced likelihood of reaching senior roles. 

Balancing multiple roles may fuel perceptions that women are less committed to their careers, reinforcing biases that view men as more suitable for senior positions. 

The cumulative impact of slower career progression, wage gaps, and possible career breaks results in lower lifetime earnings, which affects savings and financial security in retirement. Many women that face the triple shift enter their later years with less pension and savings, potentially leading to old-age poverty.