The 9-to-5 workday is fast disappearing, especially for women. Despite the most robust economy in decades, more than half of working moms with young children work different shifts than their husbands, a new AFL-CIO report says.
In the new "24-7" economy, the Ask a Working Woman report raises questions about the very meaning of family: Will the family dinner, the romantic meal with the spouse or even a night out together become the rare exception?
"The frantic pace of today's economy continues to put a strain on working women -- many of whom are working odd hours and schedules other than their spouses and partners," the report says. But, it adds, "Good economic times notwithstanding, surprising numbers of working women are doing without the basic benefits they need to care for their families."
Among other findings, based on a random nationwide survey of 765 women:
--More than half of working women have no paid leave to care for a child or an ill family member.
--One-third have no flexibility or control over work hours.
The union says 51 percent of working women call equal pay and expansion of the Family and Medical Leave Act "very important." Working women, the union said, also rated affordable health care, retirement pay and quality child care among top priorities.
The number of working women, the report said, had grown to some 63 million, just over 46 percent of the workforce by 1997.
"Working women," the report said, "shoulder a heavy burden in America's families, workplaces and communities. And even though times are good, their lives are not necessarily getting any easier."
