Posted under Career Management on March 29th, 2007
The City of Brotherly Love is discussing work-life balance on the front pages of the Inquirer, The Head Coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, Andy Reid, has recently returned to work after a 5-week family LOA. This exposure is good for all of us whose need to balance work and family priorities is less public, but no less important.
Philly and her infamous football fans are following the story of Reid’s decision to dedicate his full attention to the needs of his adult sons, who face serious legal challenges. Known more for Rocky Balboa and cheesesteaks than for progressive social policy, Philadelphia may indeed be displaying more love and respect for people who make work-life choices.
Reid returned to his coaching duties on March 24, 2007, and admitted feeling conflicted about the demands of work and family. It is refreshing to read comments like his in the Sports section of major newspapers. This very big man in a big man’s sport talks freely about his principal concern - his family. Yet he also makes it clear that balance is something he expects of himself: “You balance it out and you go forward.”
This issue has been simmering in the background of many professions - legal, medical, performing arts - and its place on the front page is now shared by politicians. John and Elizabeth Edwards represent another side of this balancing act; their choice is not to take leave of their career goal in the face of a grim medial prognosis.
As a career consultant, I see this as one of the major issues that candidates struggle with. Few people want to work 24/7, yet technology, offshoring, outsourcing, and shareholder expectations have created tremendous pressures on working people. In addition to the latter external forces, many people choose a workaholic lifestyle for a variety of psychological and financial reasons.
The fact that high-profile men like Tony Dungy, Andy Reid, and John Edwards are grappling with these issues on 60-Minutes, on talk-radio, and in the nation’s newspapers is good for those of us whose stories are not as newsworthy. Seize the moment - discuss this topic with other readers, with your family, your colleagues, and your employer. Work life balance is in play…
Posted by Karen Katz
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