Families and Work Institute recently interviewed 3,000 employees for a study that replicates surveys conducted in 1977 and 1992. One statistic the current survey revealed, is that people are working longer hours: 47.1 hours a week, up from 43.6 hours in 1977. One question that was not asked in the survey was whether commute time has also increased. Since 1977, almost every urban dweller is dealing with lengthened car time, so that 47.1 hours a week actually be considerably more when the daily commute is totaled. 

The bottom line statistic of the survey is that nearly 30% of employees feel they don't have enough time for their families or other people who are important to them in their livesas a direct result of the demands of their jobs. An additional 61% say they occasionally feel this way. 

A razor sharp distinction is made in this survey. Productivity is not caused by family problems, such as inadequate child care or elder care. But job productivity is affected by stress caused because people feel overwhelmed with all the demands on them. In other words, specific home problems don't reduce job productivity. But total pressure caused by too much to do in all parts of our lives does affect productivity. 

This is a fine distinction and one that needs to be looked at carefully. If corporations attempt to solve productivity problems at work by solving specific problems for their employees (such as providing child care), they not be addressing the root cause of lowered job productivity. In the Families and Work Institute survey, few employees reported that their family problems spill over into their work. But the opposite is not true. Work problems frequently spill over into personal time and home lives. This, in turn, means that people walk into the office in the morning already stressed, or as one of their survey respondents said: "I don't even like to greet my coworkers in the morning." 

Susan Charendoff, manager at Joseph Seagram & Sons, Inc., summarizes the point: "Companies are trying to do much more in their work-family programs. But at the end of the day, if you offer programs and are making too many job demands, it doesn't work." So, companies need to look at this issue with a refined eye, particularly for their employees who have small children. It doesn't matter how well cared for the children might be during the day, parents need to be rested and alert when they deal with their children in the evenings. And every parent knows that requires energy, some of which needs to be left over from the day.    

Janelle M. Barlow, Ph.D.  

Author of The Stress Manager 

Previous "Stress Management Corner" pages: 
      #1  
      #2  
        #3    
      #4    
      #5  
      #6  
      #7  
      #8  

 

Get involved with the Stress Management Corner. We're looking for stress management questions, relaxation techniques, resources or personal stories. Fax or e-mail your suggestions

 

  Performing Under Pressure Program  

  The Stress Manager Book 

tel: 702 939-1800 
 
fax: 702 939-1804 
 
email:  

Website designed by  
©2005, TMI US