7 truths behind the real work-life balance
September 8, 2015 12:20 PM
The thin veil separating work and personal life is becoming even more transparent as technology evolves and employers demand more from employees. Findings from the American Psychological Associations recent Work-Life Survey highlight employees' perceptions of their work-life benefits.
[Image: Fotolia]
[Image: Fotolia]
A blurring communication
Six in ten working Americans say they respond to personal communications during work hours and almost five out of ten (48%) report regularly responding to work communications during personal time.
[Image: Fotolia]
[Image: Fotolia]
Taking control
Although technology increasingly allows communication to span work and non-work boundaries, a majority of U.S. workers say they control the boundaries between their work and personal life and decide whether they keep them separate. People also report investing a lot of themselves in both work (61%) and family (72%).
[Image: Fotolia]
[Image: Fotolia]
Flexibilities
Although 51% of working Americans say their employer offers flexibility for when they work, less than half report having flexible options in terms of the number of hours they work (43%), how many days per week they work (40%) and the location they work from (34%). Even fewer U.S. workers tap into work-life benefits, with just a quarter or fewer using work-life benefits once a month or more.
[Image: Fotolia]
[Image: Fotolia]
Gender differences
The survey found that men are more likely than women to report using some work-life benefits more frequently (once a week or more), including child care benefits (9% vs. 2%), personal time off (9% vs. 4%), flexible schedules regarding how many days a week they work (15% vs. 9%).
[Image: Fotolia]
[Image: Fotolia]
On the flip side
Women are more likely than men to say they have control over whether they are able to keep their work and non-work lives separate (79% vs. 70%), invest a lot of themselves in family (77% vs. 67%) and feel like they have gotten the important things they want in life (67% vs. 58%).
[Image: Fotolia]
[Image: Fotolia]
When parenting
Working parents with at least one child under the age of 18 in the home in general report greater utilization of non-work support and flexible work arrangements, as well as more non-work issues interrupting work (55% vs. 42%) and more work interrupting non-work time (36% vs. 25%).
[Image: Fotolia]
[Image: Fotolia]
Parenting bonuses
Although there are times when working parents may be distracted at work, the survey did find that working parents report higher levels of work engagement (46% vs. 40%) and an overall better work-life fit (81% vs. 71%).
[Image: Fotolia]
[Image: Fotolia]
