87 Percent of Workers put Love Before Careers
The survey of more than 2,000 adult workers revealed that today’s workers are willing to sacrifice their careers for love – whether that means not taking a new job because it does not offer spousal benefits (46 percent) or taking a back seat with their own job for their spouse’s professional success. The survey found that both men (72 percent) and women (73 percent) are willing to focus less on their careers for the sake of their partner’s career and family life. Around one-in-10 (9 percent) workers said they have already taken a back seat in their career to help their spouse or partner advance instead, and 26 percent of workers are extremely or very willing to do so.
Workers are even mixing “business with pleasure” as 26 percent of respondents reported that they met a spouse or partner at work.
“These findings illustrate that many workers are making their personal lives, their relationships and their families their top priorities, even ahead of their careers in many instances,” Sandy Mazur, Spherion’s division president, said. “For most employees, work-life balance is a top priority and their job responsibilities must be able to be integrated into their personal lives for them to define their careers as successful.”
Other key highlights include:
- 61 percent of employees disagree that having a spouse or partner can slow down a person’s career advancement.
- Just 18 percent of employees said they would delay or decide not to have children because of their career
- 73 percent of workers whose employer offered benefits to their spouse or partner were more likely to stay with the employer because of the spousal/partner benefits
- 72 percent reported that they are more satisfied with their job because their employer offers benefits to their spouse or partner