Work-family balance difficult for working dads, study says

Work-family balance difficult for working dads, study says


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SALT LAKE CITY — With tough economic times, it's not uncommon for both mothers and fathers to work outside the home. A new Pew Research poll found both admit this isn't an ideal situation.

Of all the men surveyed, almost half say they don't spend enough time with their kids, and they're not happy about it.

"It's hearing about some story or some good time and you missed that," said Russell Cardon.


It's always great to see them, and work takes away from that, so it's kind of finding that balance.

–Chad Swan


Chad Swan says he wished he had more time with his kids.

"It's always great to see them, and work takes away from that, so it's kind of finding that balance," said Chad Swan.

It's a balance that's hard to find for these working dads between hours logged at the office, long commutes, and little time at home.

The Pew Research Center finds fathers devote only seven hours a week to child care, compared to mothers who spend 14 hours.

"If we had our choice we would probably split it equally, but it's just the nature of my job that I have to work fulltime," said Richard Dorsky.


If we had our choice we would probably split it equally, but it's just the nature of my job that I have to work fulltime.

–Richard Dorsky


Dorsky is a Professor at the University of Utah Medical School. He works about 50 hours a week, but is making changes so he has more time with his boys.

"I can arrange meetings and make time when my wife has to work so I can do things with the kids when they're not in school like today," Dorsky said.

So instead of standing in front of the classroom, he's on swing duty at the park.

Lawrence Hopper, is a Utah Highway Patrol trooper who works the swing shift.

"When I'm home, they're usually in school, and when they're home I'm at work," Hopper said. "I never feel like I can spend enough time with my kids."

But he's found a way to get in a little more time. Hopper joined the "Watch Dogs" in the Granite School District, a group that encourages dads to volunteer in their child's classroom.

And although the study found fathers spend only around seven hours a week with their kids, the number is going up. It's almost tripled since 1965.

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Ashley Kewish

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