Mom isn’t the only one struggling with work-life balance

We hear a lot about the difficulties moms face finding enough time for work and family life, but plenty of dads are struggling to juggle these obligations as well.

A new survey from Boston College’s Center for Work & Family – out just in time for Father’s Day – finds that working dads are dealing with many of the same issues working moms face – and a surprising number of them would consider chucking it all to stay home with kids.

The survey isn’t exactly representative of the population as a whole. It looked at 963 working fathers employed by four Fortune 500 companies. In addition, around three-fourths of those surveyed had at least a bachelor’s degree and earned more than $75,000 a year.

Still, the results were telling. Nearly six in 10 of the fathers surveyed said they had not been able to get everything done at home because of their job.

In addition, many of the dads surveyed seemed to want to be more equal parents than they actually are. Although 65 percent of dads surveyed said both parents should provide equal amounts of care, only 30 percent said they actually do divide care equally. In most cases, they said the other parent was the one providing more care.

Family clearly played a role in their work life decisions. More than nine in 10 said that if they were considering a new job, they would consider how much that job would interfere with their ability to care for their children.

Perhaps most surprising: Over half said they would consider being a stay-at-home dad if their spouse made enough for the family to live comfortably. 

Is it harder for dads to ask their employers for more of a work-life balance?

Results with 13 short comments
Total of 2,739 votes - click on the "Display Comments" bar below to sort comments

77.3%
Yes, it’s less accepted than when moms do it
2,118 votes
8.3%
No, dads look like heroes when they want to spend more time at home
228 votes
14.3%
It depends on the situation
393 votes
Display Comments:
Yes, it’s less accepted than when moms do it

Definitely yes - been there as a single parent. It can be a career-killer.

  • 1 vote
 - 10:10 am EDT on Wed Jun 15, 2011
Yes, it’s less accepted than when moms do it

Not that it matters much. Society's attitudes say that dads aren't really necessary anymore except to provide the child support.

  • 4 votes
 - snake13
 - 11:22 am EDT on Wed Jun 15, 2011
Yes, it’s less accepted than when moms do it

Too many Type-As in management who push deadlines ahead of worker health, safety of families.

  • 2 votes
 - 11:29 am EDT on Wed Jun 15, 2011
Yes, it’s less accepted than when moms do it

As a single dad raising a 4yr old alone its very difficult but we live in a mother focused world. Dads are just the baffoons you see on tv.

  • 8 votes
 - 11:51 am EDT on Wed Jun 15, 2011
Yes, it’s less accepted than when moms do it

So sick of women's groups trying to convince everyone that they are uniquely struggling. Today's man struggles for work/family balance too.

  • 4 votes
 - 1:31 pm EDT on Wed Jun 15, 2011
It depends on the situation

Our company makes a big deal out of work-life balance, but also does not provide the time needed for balance. Work from home, but 60hrs/wk

  • 3 votes
 - JohnS77
 - 1:34 pm EDT on Wed Jun 15, 2011
Yes, it’s less accepted than when moms do it

Women still expect men to make 3x as much as they do and pay all the bills even though most haven't had a decent raise since 1980

  • 5 votes
 - 3:23 pm EDT on Wed Jun 15, 2011
No, dads look like heroes when they want to spend more time at home

Dad or mom, what difference does it make? At the end of the day, parents are parents, your child(ren) still want both mom and dad.

  • 1 vote
 - 4:18 pm EDT on Wed Jun 15, 2011
Yes, it’s less accepted than when moms do it

The traditional role of the man is to be the workaholic breadwinner, and work-life balance is for weenies and commis.

     - 8:07 pm EDT on Wed Jun 15, 2011
    Yes, it’s less accepted than when moms do it

    Of course! Men are not valued in our society for much unless its a paycheck especially by women. Nobody cares for men, bosses, employers et

    • 1 vote
     - 8:38 pm EDT on Wed Jun 15, 2011
    Yes, it’s less accepted than when moms do it

    Woman's career: work ends at 3 pm, 3 months summer vacation, sleep every day of summer vacation until afternoon. Dad = money making machine

    • 1 vote
     - 12:24 am EDT on Thu Jun 16, 2011
    It depends on the situation

    It depends on where you work. UPS always gave my husband a hard time when he needed time off for family issues.

       - 7:59 am EDT on Thu Jun 16, 2011
      No, dads look like heroes when they want to spend more time at home

      The only reason I work is to support them. If I don't have the time to spend with them it's pointless. Everything needs balance.

         - JustMax
         - 10:23 am EDT on Thu Jun 16, 2011

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