A Life Out of Balance
If you believe your life is in perfect balance and that harmony reigns supreme at home and at work, then by all means, skip to Chapter 9. The odds are good, however, that there are times when your job swallows up your home life with early mornings, late evenings, long commutes, bulging briefcases of paperwork to be done after hours, and even weekend stints in the office to finish a report before Monday. Americans are obsessed by — some would say defined by — their work. Who hasn't attended a party and been asked, “What do you do?” In many other countries, work provides the means to enjoy the rest of one's life. In the United States, we are conditioned from an early age to focus on what we want to be when we grow up and then set about working toward that goal, not just achieving it but excelling at it. Success, recognition, and lots of money are great, but if they come at the expense of your family, friendships, health, and even sanity, are they truly worth it?
9 to 5 Is Now 24/7
As globalization revs into high gear, it seems there is more work to do in a shorter amount of time than ever before. Budget cuts, downsizing, layoffs, and early retirement packages have left fewer workers to do the same work, or more, while employers want more work done for less cost. It's not unusual at some companies for one or two people to handle the work that five used to do. Pagers, e-mail, cell phones, and other technologies can make jobs immeasurably more efficient, but they also mean that you can never truly be out of reach of the office or its demands. There's always the danger of being perceived as not working hard enough if you don't respond immediately to every message you get.
Probing the Problem
There is no shortage of surveys, studies, commissions, and task forces striving to draw attention to the fact that U.S. workers are increasingly stressed out and overworked. Even the Senate took note in 2003, when it passed a bipartisan resolution declaring October as National Work and Family Month, stating that, “reducing the conflict between work and family life should be a national priority.” The appendices at the back of this book can direct you to some of the research organizations and the studies they conduct. Some of their findings in recent years include these illuminating facts.
One in three employees claims to be chronically overworked.
Men work on average forty-nine paid and unpaid hours per week, while women average forty-three and one-half hours.
Half of those asked in one survey said they felt overwhelmed by their workload the previous month.
Only 36 percent of workers feel truly secure in their jobs.
Many workers feel they would be penalized if they took advantage of the work/life options their employers offer.
Over one-third of workers have no plans to take all of the vacation time they are due.
Here's a depressing thought: In 2005, a researcher at McKinsey & Company noted, “We have created jobs that are literally impossible.” Even with twice as much time available, managers agree that they would still not get everything done. The problem can be particularly severe for freelancers and entrepreneurs. That kind of work can be feast-or-famine, and so to forestall the famine, the self-employed say “yes” to every project, filling every moment with work because next week there may be none.
