By Susan Schneider, NurseZone contributor
September 11, 2001 changed Americans in many ways. As a country, as families
and as individuals, we had a shift in our priorities. Things that seemed
important the day before no longer seemed to count at all.
One of the most profound changes occurred in the country's collective work
ethic. Climbing the corporate ladder, working long hours and foregoing family
life for the sake of career success suddenly seemed very wrong.
Although the American dream is what anyone wants to make of it, the dream
often includes accumulating wealth, material possessions, power and any other
things or services that make life move more quickly and without interruption.
After all, many rationalized, a fast pace proves you are needed and important.
But the attacks on the World Trade Center stopped us all in our fast tracks.
People everywhere started re-evaluating their priorities. Employers, employees,
the self-employed...everyone started looking for new answers to issues of
work/life balance. And they started looking for ways to add new meaning to their
lives.
What Has Changed?
In the past year and half, some interesting results of this re-balancing have
emerged across America.
- According to a Martiz Research study in January 2002, 41percent of working
adults changed their work and life priorities, placing less emphasis on work
and more on family.
- The country as a whole started examining ethics as well as economics in
the business world and demanded companies be evaluated by new values-based
standards.
- In a survey commissioned by American Demographic Magazine, 73percent of
1,000 respondents said helping others had taken on greater significance in
their lives.
- In the same survey, 67percent of the respondents said they were putting
more emphasis on serving the country.
- Consultants who previously coached professionals through career issues are
now in demand as 'life coaches,' helping individuals find more balance between
career, family life, leisure and avocational interests.
- Home builders and interior designers have seen heavy growth in all things
related to "nesting" and "cocooning"—terms used to describe people's emphasis
on spending more time at home with their families.
- Board games, the old-fashioned, non-video kind, have enjoyed marked sales
increases as people entertain at home and enjoy one another's company;
- The restaurant industry has seen a big rise in meals consumed at home.
- In a national survey conducted by Office Team, a specialized
administrative service company, 32percent of employees ranked balancing work
and life demands as their top concern, well above a competitive salary or even
job security.
Nurses Seek Balance Too
In the Seattle Times on Feb. 16, syndicated columnist Carol Kleiman
wrote: "Nurses used to describe the stress they experience as "burnout." Now
they call it "a need for work/life balance. And today, health-care institutions
that want to ease the current shortage of nurses are listening."
Issues that are being addressed by nurses and their employers nationwide to
aid in work/life balance include:
- Autonomy and decision-making authority.
- Compensation and benefits.
- Flexible working schedules.
- Accessible continuing education programs.
- Tuition reimbursement.
- Child care programs.
- Elder care programs.
- Varied career paths and environments for nursing practice.
- Increased staffing resources.
- The ongoing creation of more positions to provide leadership and advice to
government on nurse recruitment, retention, education and workplace issues.
These issues are common to most professionals, but the value placed on nurses
in this country and the unified voice with which they address their needs will
certainly assure more work/life balance in the years to come.
United by Our Goals
The events of September 11, 2001, were a wake-up call to many Americans. We
are still reeling from the aftermath and have many new challenges to face as
individuals and as a country. But it seems some things are in clearer focus. We
value our freedoms and will not take them for granted. Nor will we waste our
free time on things that aren't so important after all.
© 2003. AMN Healthcare, Inc. All Rights Reserved.