How working parents can balance work and life

Rotating shifts of a parent — a schedule that varies day by day or week by week — can be most problematic for children. A study from the University of Washington found that the impacts of parent work schedules on children vary by age and gender, and often reflect which shift a parent works.

The study focused on two-parent families in which one parent works a non-standard shift, hours that are common in health care, law enforcement and the service sector. 

 Busting the conventional notion, the study found why 9 to 5 isn’t the only shift that can work for busy families.

“Workers often struggle to carve out the work/life balance they want for themselves, and in dual-earner families, balancing partners’ schedules remains an issue for many families,” said Christine Leibbrand, author of the study. Leibbrand examined data on two-parent households in which one parent worked a non-standard shift. 

Other research on the impact of shift work on adults’ physical and emotional stamina, Leibbrand said, suggests that parents who work non-standard schedules may be under more stress and sometimes have less energy, or “psychological capital” to meet their child's needs. 

But when it comes to nonstandard shift work, a consistent schedule appears to buffer the negative effects, according to Leibbrand’s research. 

But families don’t always have the resources for child care or control over work schedules. That’s where employers and policymakers come in, Leibbrand said. Solutions could involve allowing greater flexibility in the workplace or in providing paid family leave and access to quality child care.

“Most parents want to spend time with their children and want to find a way to do that,” she said. “We should be prioritising people’s well-being and balancing of work and home life.” 

Leibbrand’s findings

• A mother’s night shift tended to have benefits for boys and girls, especially when they’re young 
• A mother's rotating shift, or a split shift — say, going to work for a few hours in the morning, and again in the evening — was associated with greater problems among boys of all ages, and among older girls n A father’s rotating or split shift was associated with more behaviour problems among girls, particularly younger girls 
• A father’s night shift tended to coincide with behavioural benefits among boys 

— ANI