Professor Inga Carboni contributes to critical research on "The Crisis of Care"
Inga Carboni, W. Brooks George Term Associate Professor at William & Mary's Raymond A. Mason School of Business, is making an impact with her recent contribution to a collaborative, multi-disciplinary piece titled The Crisis of Care: A Curated Discussion. This vital work, co-authored by Carboni and several notable scholars, delves into the complex intersection of caregiving and career, an area often overlooked in management research.
For generations, women have shouldered a disproportionate amount of caregiving responsibilities — caring for children, elderly relatives, and those with health needs. This "second job" has traditionally been underappreciated and under-recognized, yet it plays a critical role in sustaining families and communities. As more women enter the workforce and the demands for childcare and eldercare rise, many women find it increasingly difficult to balance these dual roles. The research calls attention to this growing crisis and aims to dismantle myths surrounding caregiving and work.
The article identifies four myths that have long segmented the concepts of work and care in management research and practice. It provides a broad vision for advancing both theoretical and practical solutions. Inga Carboni's section, titled Women Alone: The Paradoxical Role of Workplace Networks for Caregiver Employees, addresses the challenges caregiver employees — particularly women — face when relying on workplace networks for support.
"Personally, I can't imagine navigating life without my support network. It has been a lifeline during some of the toughest and most challenging times in my career," Carboni said. "However, I also worry about overburdening those already stretched thin. Women, in particular, carry so much. I'll never forget having a gut-wrenching phone conversation about a difficult work issue with a close friend while she was picking up her two young children from daycare, grocery shopping, and preparing dinner for her family. I'm so grateful for her support, but I can't help but feel it came at the cost of precious time with her loved ones."
Carboni's essay highlights the paradox of workplace networks. While informal networks can provide essential social and emotional support, they can also reinforce gender inequalities. Women caregivers, for example, tend to form separate emotional and instrumental networks, often relying on other women for support. Carboni argues that this network structure limits their access to key career resources typically provided through relationships with men. Such dynamics can perpetuate gendered power, status, and professional advancement divisions.
Moreover, formal networks such as Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are intended to support caregivers, but these networks often unintentionally perpetuate the notion that caregiving is a "woman's issue." ERGs focus on issues like childcare and eldercare, yet they fail to engage senior management or contribute meaningfully to career development, often isolating women's concerns from decision-making circles.
"One of the most difficult aspects of this crisis is that the burden of caregiving has been so gendered," Carboni explained. "Caregiving is not just a personal challenge; it's an organizational and societal issue that demands attention. We must address how formal and informal networks can perpetuate these gendered dynamics and move toward more inclusive, equitable policies that acknowledge caregiving as a shared responsibility, not just a women's issue."
The crisis of care has become increasingly urgent as more women seek to advance their careers while managing caregiving duties. As Carboni and her co-authors suggest, organizations must rethink their policies and practices, creating environments where caregiving is recognized and supported in ways that do not perpetuate gender biases. Through this work, Carboni and her collaborators are pushing for a broader conversation about how management research and practice can better accommodate the growing need for care and reduce the gendered inequalities that hinder women's professional success.
The Crisis of Care: A Curated Discussion was first published online on February 25, 2025, and continues to inspire a vital conversation about how organizations can better support caregivers in the workforce, ultimately helping to shape a more inclusive and equitable future for all employees.
Bailyn, L., Bear, J. B., Beckman, C. M., Carboni, I., Clair, J., De Vos, A., Dokko, G., Fletcher, J. K., Hall, D. T. (Tim), Harrington, B., Goldin, C., Kelly, E. L., Kossek, E. E., Lovejoy, M., Mazmanian, M., Ramarajan, L., Reid, E. M., Rothbard, N. P., Stone, P., … Wittman, S. (2025). The Crisis of Care: A Curated Discussion. Journal of Management Inquiry, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10564926241311511
