Work-life balance doesn’t exist for working parents

A study by the Pew Research Center found that work-life balance is exceptionally challenging for working parents in the U.S., with caregiving responsibilities frequently encroaching on work hours and vice versa. The survey of 2,242 working parents revealed that 70% of full-time working parents handled parenting tasks during work, and 59% managed work responsibilities while with their children. Over half of these parents reported difficulty balancing work and family life, with their jobs hindering their ability to be good parents. Furthermore, 45% found it challenging to advance their careers due to their parental roles. Even part-time working parents struggled, with over half indicating difficulty achieving work-life balance. Working mothers reported the highest strain, with 81% dealing with parenting tasks at work, and 38% doing so very often. While men also faced significant challenges, with 62% handling parenting tasks at work and 57% working while with their children, women shouldered a larger share of daily parenting tasks (52%) and household chores (43%), although 40% of parents reported these tasks were shared equally. Men were more likely to perceive an equal distribution of parenting and household labor compared to women.