After reading about Work Life Balance “Is it just a woman’s problem – work life balance in the PR industry” I found myself being quite cynical. Hey people, there are other professions out there who are suffering just as much and in some cases more. Also there are many men and women who are struggling with workload.
Work Life Balance affects all walks of life and any number of situations. Personally the advent of remote working has extended my working week to evenings and weekends. As I can access work I find myself thinking I will just do that report, or answer those emails. Before we could close the door at the office Friday and not worry about it until Monday morning. With the advent of the “Blackberry” we are never far away from the latest email which requires that immediate response – what happened to good old memos which gave us time to think and respond? Now it seems the norm rather than the exception that many of my colleagues will work evenings and weekends. Mostly just to keep on top of the job.
As to affecting women more, being one myself, I would love a wife!!! I work more hours than my husband yet still do the majority of the “home work”. It would be great to come home to a clean house, washing and ironing done, meals bought and cooked – sounds like heaven! How much of this is down to age, I am definitely not married to “modern man”.
Is it our own standards that drive us to juggle more plates in the air? The pressures to succeed at work do not take into account the school run, organising homework, housework, sick children, parents evenings! Yet we are expected to put 110% in and find time to do all the extra research/work that puts us ahead.
A survey carried out by the Work Life Balance Foundation indicated that 3 out of 4 people thought that they were working very hard; many said they could not imagine working any harder. 1 in 5 people take work home every day. Flexible working seems to be working one way and that’s in favour of the employer. All this has negative impacts which will catch up with all of us at some time!
I don’t think work life balance is a women’s problem – it’s a worker’s problem. My husband would love to balance his life so that he can spend more time with his family, but the demands of his job mean he can’t. I was delighetd that the government was planning to bring in more rights to request flexible working to try to help with this problem, and really depressed that it was one of the first things to be threatened as the credit crunch hit. Why do you say flexible working is good for employers but not employees?
I think the things that are important change throughout your life too. The current economic crisis also helps to assess what is important – although I think we could have done without the lesson!
I think that work can provide a structure, like a safety net, which can prevent you from having to look too hard at some of the big questions around getting balance into your life. Seeing friends take early retirement then re-invent themselves can be both positive and also worrying.
Gosh, great post!!!
I’m supposed to be balancing my life by taking today as annual leave – however, to prepare for today, I had to work long hours last week and take work home for the weekend. Today (whilst hoovering, cleaning the kitchen and writing my xmas food shopping list), I’ve been checking my blackberry because of a media enquiry, signing off our staff newsletter and updating my blog for my assignment.
Work life balance is definately on my list for Santa!
Thanks Lee
It seems the balance is always tipped in the favour of work rather than life!
Hello
Sorry I ahve not been back on this one before now – to busy working!!!
Work life balance – that would be nice. I believe that all professions now have a call upon them to do more and the technologies we now have does not allow us to have that gap to consider our views. They want it and they want it now is the order of the day.
Blackberry – had one of them but gave it back. I work long hours and the last thing I need is for a piece of kit to tell me when an email has come in !!! Had it back – best thing I did – unless of course your are “married” to it!!!!!!!!
Being a “modern man” I do all the things you outline and work as well so I have no support for others that do not opitch in and help – it is not who does what but how all the tasks are done evenly between all parties that matters – or am I just to old fashioned on this!
Well back to work – I have had my daily balance!! Remember that when you have gone someone will take over the job! Get some quality time for you over the holidays
Was going to ask Santa for a life but who is he anyway – probably a second life person!!
Merry Christmas
[...] Julie’s post about work-life balance came to mind when I was listening to a programme about the Slow Movement, [...]
Late comment on work – life balance (been in Australia)- one of my bosses calls it life-work balance as he thinks it is too heavily weighted in favour of life! You need to be strong to make it happen – women have guilt built in, but I agree it is not just about women many men would relish the chance to job-share or go part time but it can be regarded as a bit `woosie` in some sectors. I managed to get a job share + flexi time and what did I go and do then – sign up for a MSc in corporate comms! Perhaps deep down I don’t want a work-life balance.
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