Parental Work/Life Balance Challenge
In a recent survey commissioned by Adecco USA, specialists in workforce solutions, working fathers and working mothers are noted as being on the same page when it comes to managing work/life balance. The Workplace Insights survey, reveals that not only do 71% of working moms and 64% of working dads agree that managing their family lives is more challenging than their careers, but that 55% of all working fathers think companies should do more to help them achieve a better work/life balance. This shift in priorities reflects the reality that today’s dads are more equally sharing family responsibilities with moms. In fact, in a recent U.S. Census Bureau survey, this shift is confirmed with the number of stay at home dads increasing by almost 50% over the past decade. “The perception that the work/life balancing act is mainly a female struggle no longer holds up in today’s workplace,” says Rich Thompson, Vice President of Training & Development for Adecco Group North America. “As moms and dads continue to more equally share responsibilities both at home and at the office, employers need to be mindful of this and ensure that they offer work/life benefits that are inclusive of both groups. As a father, I can say firsthand that becoming a parent can enhance one’s life in a variety of ways, and career is certainly one of them if you can find the right dose of work and family balance.” According to the report, important qualities of working parents that transfer over to the workplace include: mastering the art of multitasking; strengthened relationship skills through negotiation, compassion and understanding; as well as being the biggest champions sponsoring access to work/life benefits for workers of all backgrounds, helping to keep a balance a top priority at corporations.
Article courtesy of Kennedy Information Recruiting Trends providing leading edge insights and strategies for the recruiting professional
