Work-Life Services: A Healthy Balance in a Complex World

Marcia rises at 5:30 every morning to shower, dress and start breakfast for her two young children. Her husband makes sure the kids are fed, ready for school and out the door in time to catch the bus. Marcia has to leave the house at 7 to make the 20-minute drive to her father's apartment. He is in the beginning stages of Parkinson's disease and Marcia makes sure he's safe, has breakfast and takes his medication. Some mornings her father needs extra help and Marcia hurries to be at work by 8:30. Her lunch hours are spent running errands or checking in on her dad, and there are afternoon phone calls to make sure the kids are at day care or to coordinate after-school activities with other parents. When Marcia has to work late, her husband brings home a pizza or burgers for dinner, and she hopes they don't both have to work late the same night. "Is everyone's life this complicated?" Marcia wonders as she collapses into bed, exhausted, at 11 o'clock.

Balancing work and home life has been a growing challenge for at least a generation, since working mothers became the norm in American society. But families today are coping with greater demands than ever on their time, energy and resources. According to the most recent National Study of the Changing Workforce by the Families and Work Institute, over the past 25 years dual-income couples have increased from 66% to 78% of married employees, and those with children are working longer hours, a combined 91 hours a week (up from 81 hours). Other findings reveal:

• 35% of workers have provided care for an older relative in the past year, a percentage that is expected to rise sharply as the population continues to age. Over 40% of caregivers for elders have children at home under 18 years old.
• 82% of working caregivers came into work late or left early as a result of caregiving, and more than half have had to change their work schedules.
• Nearly one-third of families with children under18 are headed by single parents, and 3 of 5 children under 6 are cared for by someone other than their parents on a regular basis.
• 45% of employees with families report significant conflict between their jobs and their families (up from 34% in 1977).

It's no surprise that workers are more stressed out and stretched thin than ever, particularly women, who still shoulder the majority of caregiving responsibilities for both elders and children. Men, however, are not exempt from work-family conflicts; 39% of caregivers of adults are men (AARP, 2004).

There is a silver lining, however. The Families and Work Institute study reports that Work-Life supports on the job can make a significant impact on helping employees balance the demands of family and the workplace. "When (supportive work-life policies and practices) are available, employees exhibit more positive work outcomes, such as job satisfaction, commitment to employer, and retention, as well as more positive life outcomes, such as less interference between job and family life, less negative spillover from job to home, greater life satisfaction, and better mental health."

Your Employee Assistance Program offers a wide range of Work-Life services to make life easier for you and your family. "These services are available not just to solve problems, but to help employees better manage the life changes that everyone faces," explains Cheryl Lipscomb, Director of the Aurora EAP. "Rather than spending hours on the phone trying to learn about educational options for a special needs child, for example, arranging in-home nursing care for an elderly relative recovering from surgery, or searching the Internet for answers about estate taxes -- the EAP's Work-Life Services can connect you with experts who have done the research and compared the options for you. The choice is still yours, but you're given the reliable information necessary to evaluate and select the resources that will best meet your and your family's needs."

Access is Easy, Convenient

Help begins with a phone call. Simply call the Aurora Employee Assistance Program at 1-800-236-3231 and talk to one of our intake professionals. They will connect you with a specialist who can provide prompt, personalized assistance in your area of concern:

• Child Care Consultation, Information and Referral. Choosing a child care provider is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Our trained child care specialists will listen to your needs, research options that match your requirements, and verify qualifications and availability before providing you with a list of referrals from which to choose.
• Elder Care Consultation, Information and Referral. Caring for a family member in declining health can be overwhelming … and so can finding support services you can trust. Our knowledgeable elder care specialists will guide you through the vast array of elder care resources and help you find those that are right for you and your loved one. Your EAP can also provide education and support to help you adapt to changing family relationships and cope with the emotional demands of caregiving.
• Legal Consultation. Dealing with legal issues can be confusing, stressful and time-consuming. The American Bar Association reports that 70% of U.S. households had an issue during the past year that required professional legal counsel.

When you call your EAP for legal assistance, you will be referred to a top-rated attorney in your area for a free 30-minute office or telephone consultation. This session provides many people with the answers and advice they need to resolve their situation. If further legal services are required, attorney services are offered at a 25% reduced fee. Legal matters may include civil/consumer issues; personal/family issues, including divorce or custody; business legal services; personal injury; and real estate, taxes or estate planning law.

• Mediation Services. Many consumers find they can save time and money by choosing mediation as a first step in resolving legal issues. Mediation specialists are trained to address the emotional causes as well as the legal aspects of disputes. More than 80% of legal cases are settled in mediation.
• Financial Consultation. Anyone, at any income level, can experience financial or debt problems. Many Americans are ill-prepared to manage money responsibly and resist the lure of easy credit. According to the Federal Reserve, non-secured consumer debt reached $1.65 trillion in 2001 (a 465% increase since 1980), with the average household carrying a credit card debt of $8,562.

Perhaps you're not in financial trouble, but need expert advice on the basics of budgeting, retirement planning or obtaining a mortgage. Your EAP will provide up to 60 minutes of free telephone consultation with financial professionals who can offer you sound, objective advice on a range of financial issues.

EAP Work-Life Services also offer unlimited access to website resources on legal and financial issues, including forms, financial tools, and a complete library of in-depth articles and information from experts in the field.

Special resources for parents

Are you looking for quality schools in your area? Are you and your teenager considering colleges? Or perhaps you just need some ideas for how to keep your children busy and safe over summer break. Call your EAP's Work-Life Services to receive information kits on these and other topics such as first-time parents and back-to-school planning.

For families considering adoption, our new Adoption Information Service is an invaluable resource. Our specialists can guide you through the adoption process, explaining choices and costs, and providing referrals to adoption agencies, attorneys, community resources and support groups.

We can't promise to simplify your life -- but your EAP Work-Life Services can help you balance the needs of your family and your job, while taking care of your own health and peace of mind.

Call your EAP at (414) 257-2124 or  1-800-236-3231