(well, in a few days...)
Dad's have always been expected to bring home the bacon, but in today's modern workplace, mom and dad are both doing their fair share. In fact, according to a new CareerBuilder.com survey, 37 percent of working dads would stay at home if their spouse or partner made enough money to support the family and 38 percent would take a pay-cut to spent more time with their kids.
Are you bitter because dad missed dance recitals, soccer games and graduation because of work? Twenty-four percent of working dads feel work has negatively impacted their relationship with their kids. In the past year, almost HALF (48 percent) of dads have missed a significant event in their child's life due to work. One-in-five have missed four events or more.
Some other significant findings about working dads from the survey:
- 27 percent spend more than 50 hours a week on work and 8 percent spend more than 60 hours.
- 25 percent spend less than one hour with their kids each day. Forty-two percent spenc less than 2 hours each day.
Some dads say their companies haven't caught on to the new trend of flexible work environments. Thirty-six percent say their company doesn't offer flexible hours, telecommuting, job sharing and more.
Are you a working dad looking for a healthy balance between family time and work? Richard Castellini, Vice President of Consumer Marketing at CareerBuilder.com and father of three, offers these five tips:
- Keep in touch. While you're at work, make a quick call in between meetings & projects tell your kids you're thinking about them.
- Plan a kid-friendly potluck. If co-workers in your department have kids, ask your boss if you can have a kid-friendly potluck for lunch on Friday. Not only does this allow the kids to spend extra time with you, but it also gives the employees in your department time to get to know each other better.
- Give your undivided attention. When you are home spending time with your family, turn off your cell, walk away from your e-mails and give them your full attention. If you bring work home, do it after the kids have gone to bed.
- Keep one calendar. Schedule baseball games and play recitals on the same calendar you use for meetings and travel to make sure you never double-book yourself. Save your vacation days for those special events in your children's lives, so you're there and in the front row.
- Make time. At least once a week, schedule a family activity that involves interaction such as games, bike rides, trips to the playground, etc. Also make sure to schedule a date night for you and your significant other.






