A Global Study
A quarter century after its emergence and a decade after the business case was established, the work-life field is challenged to understand the barriers that persist in preventing both employees (especially men) from fully utilizing work-life options, and managers (often men) from fully supporting them. WFD Consulting and WorldatWork’s Alliance for Work-Life Progress partnered to investigate these challenges on a global scale. GlaxoSmithKline and Workplace Options were signature sponsors of the investigation, with additional funding provided by Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Ceridian, Dell, IBM and WorldatWork. This report summarizes data collected in six countries in late fall 2010. The findings were presented and discussed at a retreat hosted by WorldatWork’s Alliance for Work-Life Progress in New Orleans in February 2011, which brought together an invited group of sponsors, work-life professionals, corporate leaders, content experts, fathers and observers of work-life trends. This report focuses on the key findings of the study and, more importantly, the implications and action recommendations discussed by retreat attendees, a predominantly male assembly. We hope we have started a conversation that will continue to generate stimulating dialogue and innovative solutions to a range of workplace issues that appear to defy obvious demographic trends and the social needs of workers, and which ultimately undermine the success of workers and the businesses that employ them. WorldatWork invited all Premier members to participate through messaging in various e-newsletters and WorldatWork blogs as well as the WorldatWork homepage. The survey was open for participation from July 28 to July 31, 2009. While the survey was targeted to WorldatWork Premier members, nonmembers may have gained access to the survey through blogs and member discussion of the survey that occurred in the WorldatWork Online Community. A total of 231 members and nonmembers participated.