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.
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