Dual Career Families Want Flexible Schedules
by Beverly Baskin

What working couples want most from their employers are flexible hours - the opportunity to meet doctor's appointments, children's needs, home repairs, and other off-the-job complications - according to a recent Catalyst report.

Catalyst surveyed almost 1,000 workers in dual career families and found that 87 percent of the women and 82 percent of the men gave high ratings to employers who allowed early departures, late arrivals, or time off during the day to meet personal needs. Their responses were uniform, according to the Washington Post, regardless of age, number of children, or other factors.

The thing the respondents liked next was the availability of "cafeteria plans" which allow workers to choose the benefit plans they prefer. This allows them to pick, or swap the program they most want, from such options as health insurance, vacation time, retirement plans, tuition assistance, childcare and elder care assistance, spouse relocation assistance, and telecommuting.

When asked how their dual career status affected their lives, 85 percent of the couples cited the increased income as the primary benefit. Two thirds commented that having a second income in the family allows more career freedom.

Having a working spouse has a positive impact on their own careers, according to 56 percent of the men and 65 percent of the women.

Details on the survey appear in the report, Two Careers, One Marriage, produced by Catalyst, 120 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005.