A recent survey by Monster.com points out that work/family balance is not just an issue for moms. Their Father’s Day survey found that if money were no object, more than half (68%) of those surveyed would consider staying home with kids. The survey reported also that Dads look favorably on workplace benefits that support family balance such as flexible work options and paternity leave (see press release here).
But, is the workplace really ready to allow Dad to value his family? In my research, I found that men still face a stigma if they take advantage of benefits created by companies to support working moms. Men must often defend their request to work a flexible schedule and must also work hard to convince their employer that they are still committed to their job if their schedule request is granted. I even spoke to one new Dad who was advised by his boss that he should code his time off for a newborn as vacation time instead of Family Leave so that others wouldn’t get the wrong idea.
I believe that we must address the needs of both working moms and dads if the work world will ever truly be family friendly. Further, flexible work options and other family friendly benefits will ultimately benefit all workers. Anyone that wants to enjoy life outside of work will benefit from flexibility and other opportunities to find balance in their lives.
