WORK-LIFE BALANCE SURVEY
US - Fewer working fathers are willing to become stay-at-home dads, according to a CareerBuilder survey.
Across 797 men employed full-time with children ages 18 or younger, 31% say they would leave their jobs if their spouse's income could support the entire family. This number is down from 37% in 2008 and 49% in 2005.
Working fathers are open to different options that will allow them to spend more time with their families, with 30% of respondents willing to take a pay cut to spend more time with their children. Forty percent of fathers will even consider a pay cut of 10% or more, according to a report by CareerBuilder.
However, 39% of working fathers report spending two hours or less per day with their children during the work days, while 14% are only able to spend an hour or less. More fathers are bringing work home at least once a week(31%), up from 25% last year. In addition, 50% of respondents say they have missed a significant event in their child's life last year due to work.
Jason Ferrara, senior career adviser at CareerBuilder and father of two, says many working fathers have to contend with heavier workloads and longer hours due to the recession. "Employers are placing more emphasis on work-life balance through creative benefits that encourage employees to better manage their personal and professional commitments. However, nearly half of working dads do not take advantage of any flexible work arrangements offered to them."
Ferrara offers some tips to help working fathers gain a healthy work-life balance:
1. Communicate - Keep an open dialogue with your family. Remember that communication is two-way. Talk about what is going on in your office, so your family understands why you are away or have to do some work when you are home.
2. Work off of a master family calendar - Add every family member's schedule to one master calendar so there are no surprises. Also, save vacation days for important events and talk to your supervisor about flexible work arrangements.
3. Your homework can wait - Avoid checking e-mails until after your children have gone to sleep.
4. Plan ahead - Add events to your calendar such as taking a bike ride, going to the park or even doing a project with your family.
5. Plan a family event in your office - Take advantage of the school holidays, and schedule a kid-friendly potluck or other event with colleagues and their families.
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