Let's help each other find work/life balance

Work/life balance may be a fantasy, but it looks like I'm not the only believer.

A couple of weeks ago, I asked in a column whether it was realistic for people to try to achieve a balance between work and family life.

In an unscientific poll attached to that column, 62.5 percent of the 80 voters said finding balance requires planning, but it is possible. Another 12.5 percent said it's a myth.

Not surprisingly, about 21 percent cast their vote for an option indicating they were "too busy working and raising a family to think about it."

I often feel like I fit best in that last group.

But even more interesting than the results of the poll were the comments I received in response to that column. Many of you are passionate when it comes to this topic.

One person wrote in an online comment that many companies expect their employees to work far more than 40 hours per week, then claim to be "family oriented."

"You can't expect double-digit growth every year and expect to not overwork your same staff," this comment stated. "That's the bottom line. It seems to me we should be working towards less hours and a more humble expectation of material wealth, but that's not what is happening. You decide where your heart is, but the political decisions being made are going to force many to just work longer and harder for less and less."

Another comment came from someone who works mega-hours but has an employer that provides flexibility.

"My current employer allows me to just get my job done and doesn't dictate how and when I do it," this comment said. "It just cares that the results happen, and trust me to figure out how to make it happen. I am fortunate to get to travel the world, and I often take my family with me, much to my kids' teachers' dismay. I work well over 40 hours a week, but technology has enabled me to do much of that with a lot of flexibility.

"Are there times I had to be somewhere else that conflicted with my family? Sure. But the big picture, I am able to spend far more time with my family and friends than my dad ever did."

That's a good point. Yes, I have to work from home at times, and that can get in the way of family time. But having the technology available to work from home also means that, if something has to get done, I don't have to run to the office to take care of it, as workers did in the past. (The same goes for keeping up with work if you're staying home sick, as discussed in last week's column.)