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SURVEY: WORK & FAMILY: HOW MEN AND WOMEN COMPAREMost companies' work/life strategies were invented as a response to the influx of women into the workforce, addressing day care, job flexibility, and other issues typically seen as urgent concerns of working mothers. The surprise: Working dads are no more satisfied with their work-family balance than women are. What follows are responses from 6,328 parents working full-time -- 3,117 fathers and 3,211 mothers -- to Business Week's 1997 Work & Family survey. Business Week, in conjunction with the Center for Work & Family at Boston College, sent questionnaires to 27,500 employees at 55 participating employers, ultimately drawing 11,664 total responses. On many topics, fathers and mothers have very similar concerns and attitudes. But while men tend more often to say they have flexible jobs and enjoy higher pay, they're also more likely to report having to work long hours. And more men than women say they face a lot of stress and pressure at work. As a result, they're also more likely to say their companies demand too much at the expense of family.
Does your company recognize and respect people's family
responsibilities?
No Somewhat Yes
Dads 9.0% 20.8% 70.3%
Moms 6.1% 22.8% 71.1%
Does your company have high-quality programs for people
who have to care for children or elder family members?
No Somewhat Yes
Dads 23.9% 23.8% 53.3%
Moms 18.4% 22.7% 59.0%
Do the leaders of your company support work-family programs?
No Somewhat Yes
Dads 17.8% 24.8% 57.5%
Moms 14.6% 25.5% 59.8%
Does management in your area have a good understanding of
people's work-family needs?
No Somewhat Yes
Dads 16.6% 20.9% 62.6%
Moms 14.2% 20.0% 65.9%
Can you vary your work hours or schedule to respond to
family matters?
No Somewhat Yes
Dads 11.5% 18.4% 70.1%
Moms 12.8% 22.4% 64.9%
Is your supervisor flexible when it comes to responding
to your work-family need?
No Somewhat Yes
Dads 7.4% 13.2% 79.4%
Moms 7.8% 15.1% 77.1%
Does your company expect employees to keep family matters
out of the workplace?
No Somewhat Yes
Dads 44.3% 31.9% 23.8%
Moms 44.4% 34.6% 21.2%
Do you feel comfortable taking time off from work to
attend to family matters?
No Somewhat Yes
Dads 19.9% 23.8% 56.4%
Moms 20.6% 26.3% 53.0%
Are you expected to work long hours no matter what it
means for your personal or family life?
No Somewhat Yes
Dads 48.9% 24.6% 26.6%
Moms 60.3% 20.6% 19.1%
Can you have a good family life and still get ahead
in your company?
No Somewhat Yes
Dads 21.7% 28.7% 49.6%
Moms 22.5% 32.0% 45.5%
Do you feel free to speak up about work-family issues
in your workplace?
No Somewhat Yes
Dads 18.6% 25.6% 55.9%
Moms 18.0% 29.7% 52.2%
Is your supervisor supportive of your company's
work-family programs?
No Somewhat Yes
Dads 12.0% 21.5% 66.5%
Moms 12.0% 21.0% 67.0%
Are your co-workers supportive of your company's
work-family programs?
No Somewhat Yes
Dads 9.0% 23.2% 67.8%
Moms 10.2% 22.4% 67.4%
Do the work-family programs in your company meet
your own personal needs?
No Somewhat Yes
Dads 19.4% 22.9% 57.8%
Moms 20.4% 24.4% 55.3%
Do the work-family programs in your company meet
most employee needs?
No Somewhat Yes
Dads 17.2% 26.8% 56.0%
Moms 16.0% 29.9% 54.1%
In general, what impact does your work have on your
home life?
Bad Neutral Good
Dads 36.3% 21.6% 42.1%
Moms 34.2% 24.0% 41.9%
In general, what impact does your home life have
on your work?
Bad Neutral Good
Dads 14.0% 37.1% 48.9%
Moms 14.8% 42.6% 42.7%
Overall, how would you rate your work-and-family
balance?
Bad Acceptable Good
Dads 20.0% 31.5% 48.4%
Moms 17.3% 35.2% 47.6%
Overall, how satisfied are you with your life?
Dissatisfied Neutral Satisfied
Dads 7.5% 10.9% 81.5%
Moms 7.9% 11.7% 80.3%
Does management take people into account when
making decisions?
No Somewhat Yes
Dads 26.6% 30.3% 43.1%
Moms 26.8% 35.0% 38.1%
Does your organization ask too much of you--at the
expense of your family life?
No Somewhat Yes
Dads 56.2% 23.7% 20.0%
Moms 63.5% 21.0% 14.9%
Does your job expose you to a lot of stress and
pressure?
No Somewhat Yes
Dads 12.6% 30.8% 56.7%
Moms 20.4% 31.5% 48.1%
Do you enjoy what you do on your job?
No Somewhat Yes
Dads 6.9% 18.2% 74.9%
Moms 6.9% 17.6% 75.5%
Is your pay enough to meet your share of monthly
expenses?
No Somewhat Yes
Dads 18.2% 25.2% 56.7%
Moms 28.2% 29.4% 42.4%
Is your company's benefits package adequate to meet
your needs?
No Somewhat Yes
Dads 12.8% 19.6% 67.6%
Moms 11.1% 18.4% 70.5%
Do you have job security where you work?
No Somewhat Yes
Dads 27.4% 29.3% 43.3%
Moms 23.3% 28.6% 48.1%
Do you get the kinds of training you need to keep
your job or find another if necessary?
No Somewhat Yes
Dads 21.2% 27.5% 51.3%
Moms 17.0% 26.7% 56.3%
Overall, how "family-friendly" is your company?
Not very Somewhat Very
Dads 19.1% 25.5% 55.4%
Moms 18.3% 24.7% 57.0%
DATA: Center for Work & Family at Boston College; BW
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Updated Sept. 10, 1998 by bwwebmaster
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