Stressed out? You too?

Tired of struggling to balance work and personal commitments?

You are not alone.

New research shows that both men and women are working longer, than Australians generally did, back in 1985.

The study, conducted by the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling, with help from the AMP, confirms that this is producing a great deal of stress.

“Balancing work and family remains a big issue for Australian men and women, with around 40 per cent of women and 30 per c ent of men feeling often or always rushed or pressed for time,” the study says.

It shows that men are now working an average of 42.3 hours a week, 2.8 more than they did, in 1985.

Women are now spending 38.6 hours a week, in full time work, against the 36.4 they did, back then

And despite advances made by women’s liberation, the study found that traditional gender roles are still deeply entrenched in Australian life.

“ And women are even less happy with the help they get with household tasks – with 11% actively dissatisfied. In contrast, only 4% of men are dissatisfied with their partners’ efforts around the home.,” the report says.

The report also found:-

Women spend more time buying goods and services, while men have more free time

Each day, on average:

Women spend 59 minutes on child care, compared to 22 minutes for men

Women spend 2 hours, 52 minutes on domestic activities and men spend one 1 hour, 37

minutes;

Women spend 58 minutes purchasing goods and services while men spend 38 minutes; •

Men spend 4 hours, 33 minutes on employment-related activities, while women spend 2

hours, 21 minutes.

The report also has something to say about Australia’s Federal public servants, who hate being called fat cats.

“ Canberrans enjoy some of the highest salaries in Australia, and they also enjoy the lowest average full-time hours of work each week – 37 hours, 42 minutes,”  it finds.