One-fifth bring home work three days per week: Survey
Leaner staffs and heavier workloads have dads putting in longer hours away from home, according to according to CareerBuilder’s annual Father’s Day survey. One-in-five (22 per cent) of 836 men surveyed said they work more than 50 hours per week on average, up from 19 per cent last year.
Dads often have to take the office home with them after putting in a full day at the office. Twenty per cent said they bring home work at least three days per week. And 39 per cent of working dads spend two hours or less with their children each day while 16 per cent spend one hour or less.
One-third (34 per cent) have missed two or more significant events in their child’s life due to work in the last year and 19 per cent said they have checked work voicemail or email during their children’s events, found CareerBuilder. Twenty-one per cent said their work has had a negative impact on their relationship with their children.
“As companies downsized during the recession and work demands accelerated, we saw dads having a harder time finding balance between providing for their families financially and spending quality time with them,” said Alex Green, general counsel for CareerBuilder. “Communicating openly and planning ahead both at work and home is critical, especially when personal and professional obligations are pulling you in 100 different directions.”
On a more positive note, 84 per cent of men who have been laid off over the last 12 months said they have found full-time employment, found the survey. However, they are less willing to give up the breadwinner role — 33 per cent of working dads who are not the sole financial providers for their households said they would quit their jobs if their spouse or significant other made enough money to support the family, down from 44 per cent five years ago.
