Workers Want Balance Between Office And Family

Family-friendly policies are one way of enticing workers to stay aboard. According to a survey developed by OfficeTeam, 26% of the 687 respondents stated that the ability to balance work and family was their top concern for the future. A family-friendly environment even rated above earning a competitive salary (23%) and job security (17%). The survey, which was conducted by Opinion Research Corp. International, Princeton, N.J., asked employed men and women, all 18 years of age or older, "What is your No. 1 concern about your career in the new millennium?" Other results were: Keeping technical skills current, 16%; having a greater need for an advanced degree or certification, 9%; and 9% did not know. "Companies that implement and encourage work-life balance programs [for example, flex-time, compressed workweeks, and on-site child care] are not just showing concern for employees' personal lives," says Diane Domeyer, executive director of OfficeTeam. "They're also practicing good business -- these policies can be pivotal in recruitment and retention efforts, especially in a low unemployment market."