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Working Moms Want More Family Time

May 11, 2006
One in four working moms report they are dissatisfied with their work/life balance and are actively seeking jobs that will provide them with more flexibility, according to the CareerBuilder.com survey, "Working Moms 2006."

Another 52 percent of working moms say they are willing to take a pay cut to spend more time with their children, a significant jump from 38 percent last year. Nearly one in ten are willing to take a pay cut of 10 percent or more.

Working mothers report heavy workloads and demanding schedules are taking away from critical quality time at home. One in ten say they bring work home three to five days a week. Thirty-eight percent admit to missing at least two significant events in their children's lives in the last year due to work; one-in-ten have missed more than five events.

"Twenty-six percent of career moms say their jobs are negatively impacting their relationships with their children," said Mary Delaney, Chief Sales Officer at CareerBuilder.com and mother of three.

"Planning ahead, prioritizing and taking advantage of flexible work arrangements can help to alleviate that tension. More than half of working moms say their companies offer flexible work arrangements, so investigate options within and outside of your organization. The vast majority say work style adjustments have not adversely affected their career progress," she said.

Some working moms say a simple phone call during the workday helps them feel connected with their kids. Twenty-eight percent report they talk to their kids while at work at least once a day; 12 percent talk to their kids twice a day. Thirty percent say they typically don't get a chance to call their families while at the office.

Delaney offers the following tips to help working moms gain a healthy work/life balance:

1) Organize and compartmentalize - set aside one night a week or a month to get organized at work. If you take work home with you, make sure your kids don't see it. Check emails after bedtime. When you're home, it's all about them.

2) Be consistent - stick to the same routine every day, so your children know what to expect.

3) Set aside vacation days - there are some non-compromises in life and you should save your vacation days for those special occasions. At major events like graduations, school plays, soccer playoffs, you are there and you are in the front row.

4) Divide and conquer - assign tasks, so when you come home from work you don't have five hours of cleaning and grocery shopping in front of you…and appreciate the results.

5) Get involved - introduce yourself to your child's teacher and ask for email updates on his/her progress. Volunteer your time where you can spend it with your kids, whether it's joining Scouts or coaching a team or participating at a school function.

6) Learn to say no - designate a certain amount of time to your community and friends and establish limits. SuperMoms need a break too.

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