What's Love Got to Do with the Workplace?

ATLANTA, Feb. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Workers have long been cautioned about the hazards of mixing business and pleasure, but according to a new study from leading staffing company Spherion, Cupid may be a presence at various workplaces and influencing many workers to place their love lives before successful careers.

According to Spherion's "WorkSphere" survey, conducted in January by Harris Poll on the company's behalf, many workers are more than willing to sacrifice their careers for love – whether it's not taking a new job because it does not offer spousal benefits (46 percent) or taking a back seat with their own job for their spouse's work success. In fact, both men (72 percent) and women (73 percent) are equally willing to focus less on their careers for the sake of their partner's career and family life. About one-in-ten (9 percent) workers say they have already taken a back seat in their career so their spouse or partner could advance instead, and a quarter (26 percent) of workers are extremely or very willing to do so.

The survey also discovered that most workers (70 percent) believe it's more important for them to focus on their personal lives first, and then their careers after that. And, when it comes to pursuing love, 87 percent of workers say they would not delay or decide not to marry or enter into personal relationships for the sake of their careers. In fact, more than half (64 percent) of workers believe having a spouse or partner actually helps people advance their careers.

Additionally, many workers are mixing business with pleasure on the job; more than a quarter (26 percent) of survey respondents report they met a spouse or partner at work.

"These findings illustrate that many workers are making their personal lives, their relationships and their families their top priorities, even ahead of their careers in many instances," said Sandy Mazur, Spherion's division president. "For most employees, work-life balance is a top priority and their job responsibilities must be able to be integrated into their personal lives for them to define their careers as successful."

Additional survey insights include:

• Sixty-one percent of employees disagree that having a spouse or partner can slow down a person's career advancement.
• Only 18 percent of employees say they would delay or decide not to have children because of their career.
• More than half (55 percent) of workers would not delay or decide not to go on vacation for the sake of their career.
• Nearly three of every four employees (73 percent) whose employer extends benefits to their spouse or partner are more likely to stay with the employer because of the spousal/partner benefits. More than three-in-four employees (78 percent) who don't receive spousal benefits would be more likely to stay if such benefits were offered.
• Almost three-quarters of workers who receive spousal benefits (72 percent) say that they are more satisfied with their job because their employer offers benefits to their spouse or partner; 77 percent of workers who do not receive spousal benefits would be more satisfied if their employer did so.

Methodology 
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Spherion from January 28-30, 2014 among 2,047 adults ages 18 and older, among which 1,088 are full-time, part-time, or self-employed. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Erica Smith at 404-870-6843 or [email protected].

About Spherion
Spherion Staffing Services is a leading recruiting and staffing provider that specializes in placing administrative, clerical, customer service and light industrial candidates in temporary and full-time opportunities. As an industry pioneer for more than 65 years, Spherion has sourced, screened and placed millions of individuals in virtually every industry through a network of offices across the United States. Spherion offers companies a unique combination of personalized customer service backed by the resources, knowledge and geographic breadth of a $2 billion dollar workforce leader. Last year we helped more than 3,000 clients find the right talent to meet their workforce goals. Each local office is individually owned and operated by a team of staffing specialists who are known throughout the community, well-acquainted with your business and supported by a strong network of talent. To learn more, visit www.spherion.com.

SOURCE Spherion Staffing Services