Nine Balancing Acts – Part II
In Part I of this article this morning, writer Paige Churchman wrote: “How wide is the gap between how you live and your ideal? Does your work feed or drain you? How do you give your career everything it needs and still know who you are? The Glass Hammer took these questions out into the corporate world to see how some top women find their balance or, if they haven’t found it, what they dream of. We talked to someone in a company known for its quality of life (Cisco Systems, number six on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For ), someone in an industry known for its long hours (law), and seven women in an industry that’s hurting (finance).” This morning’s part covered the women at Cisco and in law. This afternoon, Ms. Churchman finishes with a conversation with seven women in finance.
Women in Finance
Seven women in finance spoke anonymously about what might give them some balance. The two youngest, both single, want some time for themselves. They’re looking for freedom in how and where their hours go so they can develop in new directions.
- Two Months Off Right Now. “My ideal work/life balance right now would be to take two months off from work completely. I would really like to be laid off in a quiet round and use this time to look for a job and imagine my future and not have to go into the office, and then to start a new job where there is simply no expectation for my hours worked at all. I would simply like to be assessed on my total output, because my ability to be productive on any given day is very highly variable.” (Young MBA in an investment bank, survived massive layoffs)
- Work from Home Two Days. “I have three areas that I need to manage in my life – work (current career), school (future career), and social life. I need to set boundaries for each. This means learning to say no to friends, colleagues and my bosses. My fantasy work/life balance would be three days a week at the office and two days from home. This would allow me to be at home when UPS stops by instead of seeing that dreaded missed package slip, do a quick run to the Laundromat with my BlackBerry, clean my floors, etc. You’re probably wondering what my weekends are for. It is for me to take classes and study during the day, to unwind and go out with friends during the evening (and to meet my future husband that can clean the floors and do the laundry).” (VP at large financial services company)
The other five vary from wouldn’t work at all to wouldn’t change a thing, but self-growth keeps popping up, be it career or personal. No one is getting enough sleep.
- Not Work at All. “If money weren’t an issue I would quit my job, and see how I could use my skills to help the disadvantaged…. Work gets in my way daily, because I never feel like I can make dinner plans. Work gets in my way weekly because I’m too tired by the weekend to do anything productive. Work gets in my way yearly because I have to ration how I use my vacation time. I’d love to have more time to travel.” (VP at large financial services company, 26 years in finance, works 50-60 hour weeks, no kids)
- Work from Home One Day. “I would like to work six hours a day in the office and two hours from home, and work from home one full day a week. I like my job and would consider working if I won the lottery. I don’t want to be a stay-at-home mom.” (VP at large financial services company, 12 years in finance, works 50-hour weeks, two young kids.)
- Shorten My Week. “My ideal would be to work three days a week. Would love time for yoga and biking… I would love to move to a small house with a big garden in active artistic community….Would love more relaxed sleep. With more energy and better environment could contribute more.” (SVP at large financial services company, works 50-hour weeks with some hours from home, 2 grown children)
- Shorten My Week, Provide Development Programs. “If money were not an issue, I would probably work 30-40 hours a week. A dream job should provide personal and professional growth opportunitiesa chance to rotate through different jobs to expand skills and to excel in specific areas best suited to one’s ability; opportunities to engage in pro bono work with not-for-profit organizations; a focused program to train managers to take ‘people management’ seriously as most workers would admit that it is easier to leave a company but not a good manager. A good manager would be honest in providing constructive criticism, giving praise when due and work with work-life balance issues for all. If a company provided these elements, I can’t imagine any employee being unhappy or unbalanced.” (Director, large financial services company, 12 years in finance, works from home one day/week, 3 small children)
- Wouldn’t Change a Thing. “I would still work the same amount. I don’t really feel it conflicts with my work/family/life balance and it makes me feel good. I think I’m at my dream company and working my dream job…. I would definitely spend more time with friends and family if I didn’t work. I would take the time to go to lunch with my friends and neighbors. I have always wanted to either be a fabulously sought-after book reviewer so I could sit around and read books all day or a nasty postal clerk somewhere in New Hampshire where I would completely leave my job at the end of the day and feel free to get whatever frustrations I had out on the public.” (VP for medium-size financial services company, 25 years in finance, works 55-70 hour weeks, works from home at least two days/week, 2 children: “tween and teen”)