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Should the person who works from home do more household tasks than the one who doesn’t?

34 replies

Ramsinator · 05/05/2026 12:59

I work from home three days a week, I have an office job and go in twice a week. I work the standard 9-5

Partner works full time as a joiner, but his hours differ. Sometimes he can be home at 4, sometimes not until 7 depending on the location he’s been working that week.

How would you split household tasks? Should I be doing most as I’m home anyway and it’s easier for me to do them? What is a fair split in your opinion?

OP posts:
Tel12 · 05/05/2026 13:14

Probably. If you're there at 5 then if course you can get started. You'd have 2 clear hours until your partner gets home at 7.

RoseField1 · 05/05/2026 13:13

Yes, I do. It's just logical.

Mt563 · 05/05/2026 13:12

Realistically, probably yes. When we were both commuting, I was out 730-630 vs 830-530 for my partner. So he would get tea on the table, do the breakfast washing up, run the washing etc. Same idea if wfh, no commute means more time at home.

MsSquiz · 05/05/2026 13:11

I don’t think it should be a 50/50 split.
im a SAHM and DH works 2 jobs that equate to a full time role (4 days out of home, 1 day at home)
we split the jobs so if I’m doing the school run and then food shopping on my way back, he’ll sort the dishwasher before he goes to the office, or if he’s back before me as I’m doing an activity with the kids, he’ll make dinner.
more of the house hold tasks obviously fall to me, as it’s my “job” but he still participates as an adult who lives in the home!

Bjorkdidit · 05/05/2026 13:06

Well while you're at home, you're working 9 til 5, not available to do chores.

If you're spending time at home doing laundry etc, equally he could be doing the grocery shopping, going to the bank, picking up and dropping off online shopping etc etc while he's working. Does he?

SlumChum · 05/05/2026 13:06

I would say the person who works from home has more opportunity to put a load of laundry in at lunchtime, or givr the kitchen surfaces a clean before starting work. But, working from hom is work, and there shouldn't be any expectation that the home worker can take time out of work to clean.

WhatAMarvelousTune · 05/05/2026 13:05

I wouldn’t be rigid about it but yeah I think it’s reasonable. I have more free time when I wfh - not because I’m not working! But because I’m not commuting. I’m currently on my lunch break in the office, DH is wfh today. I know he put a wash on this morning before work, he’ll probably hang it out during his lunch break. He’ll also do dinner once he finishes work, because I’ll be commuting home.

DaisyChain505 · 05/05/2026 13:04

Logically the one who is home has more of a chance to put on a quick wash or prep dinner etc when they have a spare 5 minutes.

Also his job is more physically demanding and longer hours.

That being said it doesn’t mean he has an excuse to do nothing to contribute to the running of the house.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 05/05/2026 13:00

Does it need to be a totally ‘fair’ assigned split? Can’t you do more on days when he’s working late and he do more when he’s home earlier?

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