Embracing the “Two-Body Problem”: The Case of Partnered Academics

Abstract

The focal article has given examples of children, other relatives, and friends as potential beneficiaries of preferential treatment and has discussed the counterbalancing likelihood of organizational gain from (properly) employing individuals who already share social connections. Surprisingly, there is minimal mention of spouses or domestic partners. From the 1970s through the 1990s, a number of articles were published on the legal and practical issues of applying antinepotism policies to spouses, but since 2000, the literature has been almost entirely silent. This is surprising given that, in 2013, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 47.4% of U.S. families involve husbands and wives who both work.

Couples and colleagues: how scientist duos marry work and home life

“…There are clear benefits: a support system and a shared understanding of all work's stresses, including the highs and lows of a career in science, are implicit. And couples who collaborate report higher productivity levels 2 . "The fact we share the same project goals and workload allows each of us the chance to explore new methods or equipment while the work progresses, which is priceless in order to keep up with the field," says Steve Allen.…”

“…Research suggests that hiring couples brings clear advantages: offering dual positions can help to attract star talent, compensate for jobs being in less desirable locations and, importantly, help labs to attract a diverse pool of faculty members 2 .…”