U.S. ranks 28th in the world for work-life balance

SALT LAKE CITY — A recent Pew Study shows there has been a dramatic increase in the number of moms who are the primary wage-earners for their families. The U.S. is one of the best countries in the world for family wealth and access to housing.

But when it comes to a key quality-of-life category, the U.S. really struggles.

According to the OECD Better Life Index, the U.S. ranks 28th among advanced nations for work-life balance. Whether you are a working dad or working mother — finding balance is a constant struggle.

"I wish I could go help in my little kindergartner's class," said Katie, a working mom. "When my son's class goes on a field trip, I'm not able to go help."

There are several reasons why the U.S. ranks below many European countries for work-life balance. The U.S. has no national laws for paternal leave and we work longer hours.

In other countries, leisure time has increased, but in the U.S. the highest educated men have less downtime than they've had in 50 years.

"It's just the nature of my job that I have to work fulltime," said Richard Dorsky, a working dad.

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.

A Pew study found U.S. fathers spend only around seven hours a week with their kids but that number is actually going up and has almost tripled since 1965.

"I never feel like I can spend enough time with my kids," said Utah Highway Patrolman Lawrence Hopper.

Hopper works the swing shift but has also found a way to spend more time with his kids. He joined the "Watch Dogs" in the Granite School District, a group that encourages dads to volunteer in their child's classroom.

While U.S. dads are crunched for time, the most important reason the U.S. scores low for work-life balance is because of what's happening to moms. The U.S. has the fourth-highest share of single mothers and they report a severe time shortage.

"I have to stay on a strict schedule," said Mary Lema, a single mother. "If I don't, things are a mess."

Lema recently switched to a job with a more flexible schedule so she could see her kids during the day.

"I've got to constantly be progressing and looking for more money or better insurance or give me a little bit more time with my kids," Lema said.

Single or not, more mothers in the U.S. are working. Pew recently released a study that showed a record number of moms are actually the primary wage-earners.

Trey Burley is a freelance writer and a full-time dad.

"Every day is daddy day in our house because I'm the stay-at-home parent," Trey Burley said.

His wife, Jenny Burley, is a research analyst and the primary breadwinner.

"I asked my husband, ‘Could you please stay at home with the kids?' because it's an economical decision," Jenny Burley said. "I just made more money than he did."

The Pew Center report finds that in a record 40 percent of households with children under 18, mothers are now the sole or primary source of income for the family. It's a dramatic shift from just 11 percent 50 years ago.

The report also revealed two distinct groups of working mothers: 37 percent have a higher income than their husbands and 63 percent are single moms.

Lema, a divorced mother of 4-year-old Brenden and 6-year-old Reagan, says staying home with them is not an option.

"Right now the only income I have is my own. I'm not currently getting child support," Lema said.

She's working full-time and working towards finishing a bachelor's degree.

"I feel like having an education so I can get a job that will pay more is crucial," she said.

Breadwinner or not, most mothers in Utah work. According to statistics from the Department of Workforce Services, roughly 74 percent of Utah's mothers with school-age children work and about 59 percent with preschool-age children work.

"They are contributing to family income," said Heidi Hartman from the Institute for Women's Policy Research. "I think the concern is they earn only 77 percent of what men earn on average and if you're a single mother, you simply cannot provide adequately for your family."

Utah statistics and the Pew survey underscore dramatic shifts in family structure. But the Pew report also showed most Americans think kids do better when mom is home. Only 21 percent said the trend of more mothers working outside the home is a positive development for society.

The Burley family says this arrangement works for them.

"When you're in the situation, it's your life and you love it," Jenny Burley said.

But a lot of moms like Lema wish they had more of a choice.

"Being home with my kids," Lema said. "I would love to be a stay-at-home mom and be able to stay home and cook and clean and spend time with them."

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