Balancing Work and Family -
Issues of Today's Changing Work Force
The U.S. workplace and workforce have been in a state of flux for the
past 30 years. Dealing with change continues to be one of the most challenging
management/employee issues.
The facts are as follows:
- Less than 10 percent of families are composed of an employed father
and a mother who stays at home full-time.
- Almost 30 percent of the work force cares for both dependent children
and elderly relatives.
- 35 percent more families would be below the poverty line if both
parents did not work.
- Men are challenging family leave policies that appear to be developed
for women only.
- Today, women make up more than 60 percent of new workers entering
the labor force.
- Within the next 10 years, it is anticipated that 75 percent of all
children will have mothers in the work force.
- The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA)
lists stress as one of 10 leading work-related problems.
These facts certainly warrant consideration by managers and employers,
but it is the consequences of these facts that are likely to capture
one's attention. In a research poll conducted several years ago, 83
percent of working mothers and 72 percent of working fathers surveyed
indicated they are stressed by their family and work responsibilities.
Employees are not the only ones who suffer from this conflict. Businesses
are affected by reduced productivity, high turnover, absenteeism, tardiness,
low morale, accidents and illnesses. Companies currently spend billions
each year on employee stress-related claims.
The question then becomes, "What action can be taken by you as
a manager/employer to curb these escalating costs?"
Assuming your company is offering basic family health insurance, disability
insurance and access to life insurance, look beyond the benefits traditionally
provided to the work force to identify actions and programs that can
help you become a "family friendly" business.
Begin by identifying the needs of working families and the available
resources. Are there actions you can take to assist your community in
providing quality childcare, elder care and health care services? Involve
your employees in the creation of workplace policies and programs.
Family friendly options/programs to consider might include:
- Alternative work schedules
- Cafeteria benefit plans
- Pre-tax spending plans
- Flexible leave policies
- Child/elder care support options
- Worksite wellness programs
- Employee assistance programs
Businesses that want to thrive in the new millennium will need to look
for simple, economically feasible ways to support employees struggling
to balance the responsibilities of both work and family. The success
of your business could depend on the ability to meet these challenges.
Additional information on this topic is available from your local University
of Missouri Extension Center. (To locate the Extension office closest
to you access extension.missouri.edu/regions/.)
Call to request any of the following publications:
- Issues of Today's Changing Work Force, MP 668
- Innovative Scheduling Helps Working Families, MP 669
- Child Care Support Bring Productivity UP, MP 670
- Flexible Benefit Fundamentals, MP 671
- Promote Good Health With Worksite Wellness, MP 672
- Elder Care Policies Help Business and Families, MP 673
Source: Issues of Today's Changing Work Force, MP 668 - University
of Missouri Extension Publications.
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Authored by: Jackie Rasmussen, Business and Industry
Specialist, University of Missouri Extension
Source: Creating Quality Newsletter, Volume
13, Number 1, January 2004
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