A new study suggests that contrary to most surveys, people are actually more stressed at home than at work.

“Further, we found that women as well as men have lower levels of stress at work than at home,” writes one of the researchers, Sarah Damske. In fact women even say they feel better at work, she notes. “It is men, not women, who report being happier at home than at work.” Another surprise is that findings hold true for both those with children and without, but more so for nonparents. This is why people who work outside the home have better health.

At work, people pretty much know what they’re supposed to be doing: working, making money, doing the tasks they have to do in order to draw an income. The bargain is very pure: Employee puts in physical or mental labor and draws out earnings.

At home, however, people have no such clarity. Rare is the household in which the division of labor is so clearly arranged. There are a lot of tasks to be done, there are inadequate rewards for most of them. Your home colleagues --- your family --- have no clear rewards for their labor; they need to be talked into it. Plus, they’re your family. You cannot fire your family.