Daily Dad News

Long Work Hours In Australia Inspires New Book On Work-Family Balance

February 10, 2012

Fathers in the home are often expected to be providers on the financial front, at times eschewing their parental duties ahead of earning money. Around the world, fathers sometimes face daunting pressure to make sure their family is provided for. In Australia, fathers working long hours have inspired a new book that focuses on the struggles men face in juggling their jobs and families.

The book, Time Bomb: Work, rest and play in Australia today, was authored by Barbara Pocock, Natalie Skinner and Philippa Williams, using research compiled by the University of South Australia's Centre for Work + Life. The research found that 73 per cent of women with preschool children feel rushed, compared with 57 per cent of men. The book asserts a glaring fact that half of fathers with small children work well past 45 hours a week, regarded as ''long hours'', compared to 29 per cent of workers overall.

Speaking with Australian paper The Age, one man is under pressure to be both father and provider to his 3-year old son, taking on assignments that will allow him to stay closer to home. “With the reduction in money when my partner went on maternity leave, I took on more jobs I could do at night, to make up the extra load,” said building designer Chris Buchhorn. “It's a bizarre time in a way, but it gives him some attention and it gives me the time to get things done.''

Professor Pocock further asserted that the job demands and expectations in the country have impacted the hours worked in the day for fathers – further stating there may be no end to the trend in sight. ''What we're actually seeing is it's getting tougher for fathers,'' she said.

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