Negotiating a fair share of tasks

The idea

Describe the imbalance, recognise the other person’s constraints and use could we or a conditional proposal to invite agreement.

Examples

• I have been doing most of the cooking lately.
• Could we look at how we divide the chores?
• I know your shifts make evenings difficult.
• I could shop on Tuesdays if you cook on Thursdays.
• Would alternating the cleaning each week feel fair?
• Let us try this arrangement for a month and revisit it.

Watch out

A proposal is not an agreement: check that everyone accepts the tasks and timing.

Try it yourself

1. Complete the sentence: Could we ___ the tasks more evenly? (divide / hide)

   Show answer or example answer

   divide

   divide asks how the tasks should be shared.

2. Complete the sentence: I can water the plants if you ___ the bins. (empty / empties)

   Show answer or example answer

   empty

   empty follows the subject you in the proposed exchange.

3. Complete the sentence: Let us ___ the plan after two weeks. (revisit / forget)

   Show answer or example answer

   revisit

   revisit means discussing the plan again after the trial.

Use it today

Suggest a new division of two tasks and a date to reassess it.