New research out of the UK about overworked families was recently released by the Working Families campaign. Survey respondents reported that work dominated their lives and family life suffered as a result. The study also found that the majority of parents feel responsible for improving their own work/life balance. 41 percent of respondents feel that finding another job with an employer that supports work/life is the solution; and 88 percent of respondents believe that an employer should have some responsibility in promoting and helping employees achieve healthy work/life balance.

The Working Families Campaign study also unveiled the following:

• Working long hours is a major contributing factor to unhealthy lifestyles, which include lack of exercise and poor eating habits, as well as higher levels of stress.
• Employees feel that they are working longer hours than they should due to heavy workloads and the 'long-hours culture,' a UK term for staying late at work, working weekends, etc.
• 45 percent of respondents feel they have no flexibility and have a higher level of resentment toward their employers regarding work/life issues.
• Half of the parents in the survey are unhappy with their work/life balance, and the majority feel that family and children suffer as a consequence.
  
  

Child care at the workplace, as well as flexible hours and other work/life policies and practices, are some ways organizations can address the issues outlined above while helping to recruit and retain top employees.