Juggling Work and Parenting Can Be a Struggle

Of workers who have a child living at home, 78% say it’s possible to be successful in your career and as a parent, according to a CareerBuilder survey.

 

However, two-thirds (66%) spend only at least three hours a day with their children, and more than one-third (38%) have missed a significant event in their child’s life due to work in the last year. More than one in five (21%) have missed three or more events.

 

The survey found parents’ absence is noted by their children. Eighteen percent of working parents say work is negatively impacting their relationship with their spouse or significant other.

 

Half of workers who are parents (46%) have not taken advantage of flexible work arrangements, but of those who have, 37% say it has not affected their career progress, and 12% said it has positively impacted it. Nearly one in 10 workers who have children (7%) have included their parent skills/experience on their resume or cover letter.

 

Despite the toll some respondents report that work is taking on their parenting, more than half of workers with a child in the household (51%) say they feel equally successful in their role at work and as a parent. More than half of working dads (56%) feel this way, compared to only 47% of working moms. However, only 33% of working moms say they feel more successful as a parent, and only 22% of working dads say the same.

 

The national survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of CareerBuilder from April 4 to May 1, 2018, and included a representative sample of 1,012 full-time workers in the private sector across industries and company sizes.