Workers Value Relationships More Than Their Career
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Value Rankings
70% of workers surveyed believe it's more important to focus on their personal lives first and their career second. -
Office Cupid
26% said they met their spouse or partner at work. -
Love Conquers All
87% said they wouldn't delay a marriage—or decide not to marry or enter into a personal relationship—because of career considerations. -
Competitive Advantage
64% of the workers surveyed believe that having a spouse or partner actually helps advance a career. -
Personal Sacrifice
Both men (72%) and women (73%) are willing to focus less on their career for the sake of their partner's career and a happy family life. -
Package Deal, Part I
46% of the survey respondents would not take a new job if it didn't offer spousal/partner benefits. -
Package Deal, Part II
73% of those with benefits that extend to their spouse/partner said they're more likely to stay with their employer because of this. -
Family-Minded
Just 18% said they would delay or decide not to have children because of their career.
What's love got to do with it? Plenty—at least when it comes to careers. Far from a "sweet old-fashioned notion," a serious relationship often takes priority over career considerations, according to a recent "WorkSphere" survey from Spherion. At least, that's how the vast majority of surveyed employees feel. Most of these workers said they are fine with allowing their careers to take a backseat to their relationships if that benefits their life partners, and very few would delay a wedding—or not have one at all—because of professional considerations. A motivating factor may be that the majority of employees believe having a spouse or partner actually helps their career. "Many workers are making their personal lives, their relationships and their families their top priorities—even ahead of their careers in many instances," says Sandy Mazur, a division president at Spherion. "For most employees, work-life balance is a top priority, and their job responsibilities must integrate into their personal lives for them to define their careers as successful." Nearly 2,050 professionals took part in the research, which was conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of Spherion.