The ever-challenging, constantly tipping scale of personal and professional life has been a steady stumbling block to the average, working person. There is no doubt, that despite initiatives to combat this roadblock, it is undeniable the toll it is taking on the employee and their personal life.
In its most recent study, the business tycoons, EY, surveyed over 9,000 full time workers and found that money was one of the largest reasons why most full-time employees are struggling to keep both personal and professional life separate. The economy has had such a huge impact on the worker that the impact can affect the selection of job choice, and can go as far as deciding whether that person should have kids:
- Over one-third of workers said they changed jobs because of the economy.
- The economy caused one in six (15%) full-time workers to get divorced or separated and almost one-sixth (13%) to delay getting a divorce.
- Twenty-two percent said they encouraged their spouse or partner to return to the workforce and a quarter asked them not to quit their job or reduce hours to support the family.
- Nearly a quarter (23%) decided not to have additional children and more than one in five (21%) delayed having additional children.
- Twenty-four percent went back to school overall, but workers in other countries were twice as likely to pursue higher education (24%) than their U.S. counterparts (12%).
Although these results are staggering, all hope isn’t lost. It is common to feel that your professional life is overtaking your personal life and vice versa.
In a more recent report, we are seeing people go from a “work-life balance” to a “work-life sway”. Cate Gukowski, Vice President of General Electric, goes into further detail about the “sway” of work and personal.
“Some days you will have to be more present at work and more work-centric and other days you need to go to your children’s school and read that story. I think for me it’s really about, how do you be present at the times when it matters most? Sometimes it’s going to be work, and sometimes it is going to be home.”
The traditional 40-hour week is becoming obsolete as we enter 2018. More and more full-time employees are pushing for the ability to work from home due to a significant increase in hours for management. A reported 64% work 2-4 more hours a week and one-third (36%) logging an extra 5 hours or more.
For helpful tips on ways to break up your day, and balance the scale click here.