Why Balance?
Perspectives
What's The Fuss?
What are the stats on work-life balance? Why do they spell trouble for you and your organization? Here's the scoop.
Work demands are on the rise.
- Average work hours per week increased from 41 in 1973 to 50 in 2000. Gallop-Goodman 2001
- 25% of Canadians worked at least 50 hours a week in 2001 – up from 10% in 1991. Duxbury National Work-Life Conflict Study 2001
Time off and time out are in decline.
- 33% of Canadians are not taking all of their allotted vacation days. 44% of men and 26% of women employed in Canada are likely to keep in touch with work while on vacation. Ipsos-Reid Poll for Expedia 2003
- 40% of full time American employees do not take a 'real' lunch break. One-third skip lunch altogether once each week. National Restaurant Association 1999.
Employees are conflicted.
- 60% of respondents said they have trouble balancing their work and family demands. Duxbury National Work-Life Conflict Study 2001
- 54% of survey respondents sometimes felt overworked. 55% felt overwhelmed by the load. 59% lacked time to step back and reflect on the work. Families and Work Institute 2001
High demands and time shortages are harming personal health and wellness.
- Long hours are destructive to individuals' lives outside work. Perlow 1999
- In a survey of Canada's wealthiest self-employed individuals, 74% report relaxation time is negatively affected by their business. Also negatively affected were mental and physical health, family relationships, friendships and charitable work. Environics Research Group 1998
- Time famine increases stress levels and thus acute and chronic illnesses. Time shortages also affect preventative health behaviours. Vuckovic 2000
Stress, overload and work-life conflict are costly for organizations.
- Occupational stress leads to absenteeism, disease, injury and lowered productivity. Stein 2001
- Employees who experience high levels of work-life conflict are more stressed, three times more likely to be absent from work, and have a much higher intent to leave. They are also less satisfied with their work and less committed to the organization. Duxbury & Higgins 2001
- Work related stress-induced absences cost employers $3.5 billion annually. Statistics Canada 2003
Connect the dots. More time working ... less time off ... more conflicted employees ... rising stress... declining wellness and loyalty ... growing costs.
It's just not working. That's what all the fuss is about!
Check out What's The Plus? for how things could be different.
