Gender Congruence and Work Effort in Manager–Employee Relationships

Abstract

AbstractThis article uses data on public school teachers and principals to examine whether teachers who share the gender of their principal work more overtime hours than teachers who do not. Findings show that gender congruence is associated with overtime hours for female teachers but not for male teachers. This result holds between schools and within schools: female teachers with female principals work more overtime hours than female teachers with male principals, and female teachers with female principals work more overtime hours than male teachers who work in the same school, for the same female principal. In light of multiple competing explanations for this finding, the author explores why gender congruence matters for female teachers but not for male teachers. Practitioner Points Female teachers with female principals work more overtime hours than female teachers with male principals. Female teachers with female principals work more overtime hours than male teachers who work in the same schools, for the same female principals. Gender congruence is not associated with overtime hours among male teachers. Female teachers’ overtime hours are associated with female principals’ overtime hours, suggesting that female teachers emulate female principals’ work behavior.