Work-life fit linked to employee engagement, job satisfaction
Survey: Men more likely to use child care benefits, flexible schedules and other work-life programs
Contrary to popular belief, work-life balance and work flexibility issues aren’t primarily women’s issues. In fact, in some cases it is men who use work-life benefits more frequently and are more likely to say that their work is interrupted for personal or family reasons, according to survey results released today by the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Center for Organizational Excellence. The survey was conducted online on APA’s behalf by Harris Poll from July 14-16, 2015, among 902 adults who are employed either full time or part time.
The survey found that men are more likely than women to report utilizing some work-life benefits more frequently (once a week or more), including child care benefits (9 percent vs. 2 percent), personal time off (9 percent vs. 4 percent), flexible schedules regarding how many days a week they work (15 percent vs. 9 percent), paid leave (7 percent vs. 1 percent), unpaid leave (9 percent vs. 3 percent), life management resources, such as access to concierge or relocation services (8 percent vs. 2 percent), and phased transitions, including gradual return from leave (8 percent vs. 1 percent). Men were also more likely than women to say their employer offers many work-life benefits, which could contribute to these disparities.