The Obamas On The “High-Wire Act” of Work vs. Family Balance
EmailFrom Sunlen Miller: Likening the balancing act between work and family life to a “high-wire act” President Obama said that his administration stands committed to helping with workplace flexibility – as many more families struggle to make ends meet in households with two working parents. The president said that while his family has had it relatively easier than most he can still remember the days that there’s no room for error. “If the car breaks down or somebody gets sick or there's a problem at school, that begins a cascading domino effect that leaves everybody scrambling,” Obama said at the closing session of the forum at Eisenhower Executive Office Building, “I was away for days on end for my job, and Michelle was working hard at hers. So a lot of times we felt like we were just barely keeping everything together. When we were at work, we were worrying about what was happening at home. When we were home at home, we were worrying about work. We both felt our overloaded schedules were taking a toll on our marriage.” The president said that there is still a disconnect between the needs of a family and the demands of the workplace – and that the stigmas still exists: those who believe that workplace flexibility policies serve as a special bonus for women or for an employee who isn’t full committed to their job. “Workplace flexibility isn't just a women's issue. It's an issue that affects the well-being of our families and the success of our businesses. It affects the strength of our economy, whether we'll create the workplaces and jobs of the future.” The administration – Mr. Obama announced — has launched a pilot project to provide opportunities for federal workers in Washington -and across America – to telework on a regulate basis. The president promised more changes were to come. “Where regulations are in the way, we'll see what we can do to change them. Where new technology can help, we'll find a secure, cost-effective way to install it. Where training is needed to help managers and workers embrace this approach, we'll adopt the best practices from the private sector” In a dig to his OPM Director, John Berry, who famously shut down the federal government for four days due to snow this February – the president joked that he doesn’t want to see the government close because of snow again. Opening up the afternoon-long forum earlier in the day First Lady Michelle Obama said that this is an issue many have struggled with for year, and one that “society just hasn’t really quite figured out yet.” She too said she is not too far removed from the balancing act -never feeling like she was keeping up with home or work enough. She recalling getting called up for a job interview while on maternity leave with her youngest daughter, Sasha. “I had to scramble to look for a babysitting and couldn’t find one so what did I do?” Mrs. Obama said, “I packed up that little infant and I put her in a stroller and I brought her with me! And I prayed that her presences wouldn't be an automatic disqualifier. And it was fortunate for me that number one she slept though the entire interview and I was still breastfeeding, if that’s not too much information, and I got the job.” Mrs. Obama called this the “delicate balance of perfection” and said that it doesn’t have to be this way. “It just doesn’t have to be that hard,” she said referencing simple things the federal government can do – like expanding telework access, providing emergency childcare and more affordable daycare. Mrs. Obama turned the stage over to the forum’s moderator, ABC’s own Claire Shipman and joked that they were going to solve the issue during the course of the afternoon. “45 minutes?” Shipman asked about the length of the opening forum. “Shorter than health care,” Mrs. Obama quipped back. -Sunlen Miller
Santorum: Money Will Not Defeat Obama, Ideas Will 
Rick Santorum's Full Speech at CPAC 2012
who’s falt is it that nobody has jobs? obama is a dumbazz and banked his presidencey that cleary 65% of Americans didn’t want as well as bankrupting the country in a racord 13 months.
When does this insanity end? November?
Posted by: kneedragon | March 31, 2010, 6:46 pm 6:46 pm
Yeah, the days Obama had no room for error were about 12 years ago. Where did he get all his money?
Posted by: Kathy | March 31, 2010, 6:55 pm 6:55 pm
Also, do people ever consider the fact that “workplace flexibility” just may put the company you work for out of business? So called “workplace flexibility” is absolutely ridiculous in these times of economic stress. Too bad so many workers hear “more days off-Yay”! but never think twice about the consequences and then whine and moan when they lose their livlihood. THINK PEOPLE
Posted by: Kathy | March 31, 2010, 7:01 pm 7:01 pm
Kathy & kneedragon:
This is a story about “workplace flexibility”, something that is an important issue for ALL working parents.
I don’t understand how your posts relate.
Posted by: CenterOne | March 31, 2010, 7:05 pm 7:05 pm
who’s falt is it that nobody has jobs? obama is a dumbazz and banked his presidencey that cleary 65% of Americans didn’t want as well as bankrupting the country in a racord 13 months.
_______________________________
You forgot all about the economic collapse (second only to the Great Depression) under the former Republican president? That’s convenient.
Posted by: tierra | March 31, 2010, 7:05 pm 7:05 pm
Centerone, the small business owner puts his money,time and risks into a business and therefore deserves to make more then his employees. If the government imposes too man regulations on him, it will get to the point that running his business simply is not worth it. Believe it or not, people do not own businesses out of the charity of their hearts even if you seem to think they should. No profit=no business=no jobs. Economics 101. But I’m beginning to believe that this is Obama’s goal.
Posted by: Kathy | March 31, 2010, 7:11 pm 7:11 pm
And tierra, regardless of what Bush did or didn’t do, I believe that most Americans were hoping Obama would make things better. He’s not and he hasn’t.
Posted by: Kathy | March 31, 2010, 7:19 pm 7:19 pm
But I’m beginning to believe that this is Obama’s goal.
Posted by: Kathy | Mar 31, 2010 7:11:42 PM
What a peculiar thing to say as many small business owners (outside of construction and real estate) are doing much better than they had been for the last few years of Bush’s presidency when the squeeze was on, particularly for those who had to grapple with ridiculous food and gas prices. While I realize there are industry and regional differences, the stimulus bill included tax cuts for a huge majority of small business owners– via income tax cuts, tax deductions for capital expenditures and research grants for technology development. In addition all fees associated with generating new SBA loans were waived until the end of 2009 and loan programs were expanded. In addition, the health care bill includes tax credits for those who wish to provide health care benefits. The jobs bill signed on 3/18 includes additional tax cuts and hiring incentives for small businesses. In addition, the President is pushing Congress to use $30 billion that had been set aside from the TARP program to start a new program that provides loans and tax credits to small businesses…
Meanwhile, many small businesses ARE MORE FLEXIBLE than buttoned-up corporations, though that varies by industry, department and corporate culture, and that has changed over the years.
AND your concern doesn’t match the facts.
Neil Irwin (WaPo):”One of the great surprises of the economic downturn that began 27 months ago is this: Businesses are producing only 3 percent fewer goods and services than they were at the end of 2007, yet Americans are working nearly 10 percent fewer hours because of a mix of layoffs and cutbacks in the workweek.
That means high-level gains in productivity — which in the long run is the key to a higher standard of living…”
Posted by: progressive mama | March 31, 2010, 8:12 pm 8:12 pm
I don’t know one small or medium sized business owner that’s doing well in my area-a suburb of Chicago. Contracters are tanking especially. The jobs report that just came out is worse than expected excepting the fact that Obama’s adding government jobs, which by the way produce nothing, by the day. Just watch the price of spot gold to see how the world feels about the worth of the dollar. It’s very telling.
Posted by: Kathy | March 31, 2010, 8:20 pm 8:20 pm
Posted by: Kathy | Mar 31, 2010 8:20:55 PM
Hmmm…. you need to visit some other suburbs. I could give you a list of at least 40 or more off the top of my head– in Chicago suburbs, including two contractors and two interior designers– and lots of delis, and so on.
Get out more.
LOL.
Posted by: progressive mama | March 31, 2010, 8:25 pm 8:25 pm
p.s. Try reading Crain’s Chicago business to see what I mean (e.g “Recession is the mother of reinvention”)– and think green businesses, grocery stories, second hand resell shops, wine stores (seriously), McDonald franchise owners, Chicago-based Groupon… and so on.
Sorry to nit, but I find it really irritating when someone says something so out of line with facts, unless you really don’t know all that many small business owners in the Chicago area, or they’re all in construction or real estate and not good enough to be retaining a good word-of-mouth client base.
Posted by: progressive mama | March 31, 2010, 8:40 pm 8:40 pm
“The Obamas On The “High-Wire Act” of Work vs. Family Balance”
In all honesty, admit that the Bushes did it so much better…
Posted by: Quo Warranto | April 1, 2010, 12:28 am 12:28 am
“The Obamas On The “High-Wire Act” of Work vs. Family Balance”
In all honesty, admit that the Bushes did it so much better…
Posted by: Quo Warranto | Apr 1, 2010 12:28:49 AM
___________________________________
So, since you asked . ..
Oh sure . .. the Bush daughters were top of the line role models – born into an oil and banking family of generations of multi-millionaires. George W. propped up in business by his father and his father’s friends. The main balance they had going was the cheque book – financed by the family.
Posted by: tierra | April 1, 2010, 2:46 am 2:46 am
Perhaps Obama’s solution to work/family ratio is to make the whole world government and not have to deal with the question.
Posted by: EPU | April 1, 2010, 5:58 am 5:58 am
POTUS and FLOTUS have no business comparing themselves to ordinary folk. Living in the WH just doesn’t lend to such a comparison. Outside there (WH), if things are so dicey and they’re so concerned about them, one of them should’ve quit their job long ago to be home and raise those kids.
Posted by: smartlillena | April 1, 2010, 6:35 am 6:35 am
“The Obamas On The “High-Wire Act” of Work vs. Family Balance”
In all honesty, admit that the Bushes did it so much better…
Posted by: Quo Warranto
////////////////////////////
Really?
Does “so much better” mean raising daughters with drinking problems?
Posted by: Linda P. | April 1, 2010, 7:51 am 7:51 am
Work life balance is NOT a subject appropriate to the president. It is part of the job. Maybe if he would stay “home” instead of post campaigning there wouldn’t be a problem!
Posted by: nancy | April 1, 2010, 9:35 am 9:35 am
They knew the price, when they asked for the job.
No sympathy from me.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | April 1, 2010, 11:46 am 11:46 am
tierra wrote: “The main balance they had going was the cheque book – financed by the family.”
.
Versus fraud jobs paying $300K at the University of Chicago Hospitals? A job that was so critical that it was eliminated when Michelle Obama left? House and land deal courtesy of Tony Rezko? If the oBama’s were balancing anything, it was “how far can we ride this gravy train before someone in the media takes note”.
Posted by: gk | April 1, 2010, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm
Versus fraud jobs paying $300K at the University of Chicago Hospitals?
Posted by: gk | Apr 1, 2010 12:14:39 PM
_____________________________________
gk this country runs on the rule of law, not what you’ve read about on a right wing blog.
There were no fraud charges laid, there was no fraud conviction . .. NOTHING of the kind.
Phony, unproved allegations are just that.
Rule of law is what separates people who think they can run the country on their opinions like yours as a tyranny from a country based on freedom and the rule of law.
Posted by: tierra | April 1, 2010, 4:48 pm 4:48 pm
“Versus fraud jobs paying $300K at the University of Chicago Hospitals?”
Huh?
She was paid what other VPs there were paid.
Her job involved local clinics caring for everyday needs so that the emergency room could be kept for medical emergencies.
See emergency room care costs far more than seeing your regular doctor.
Its a fairly practical solution that you would think right wingers would support.
“A job that was so critical that it was eliminated when Michelle Obama left?”
ROFLMAO!
You’re referring to this
Chicago Tribune “The University of Chicago Medical Center late Friday confirmed a massive restructuring that will trim $100 million in expenses, or nearly 7 percent of its annual budget, amid the economic downturn and unpaid bills owed the hospital from the state Medicaid program for the poor.
Initially, the hospital is eliminating 15 senior executive jobs, including vice president for community and external affairs, a position that had been by incoming First Lady Michelle Obama. Her duties will be taken over by Dr. Eric Whitaker,”
Posted by: Ryan C | April 1, 2010, 5:22 pm 5:22 pm
“The Obamas On The “High-Wire Act” of Work vs. Family Balance”
In all honesty, admit that the Bushes did it so much better…”
It remains to be seen how the Obama children will be affected by the limelight.
Many children of famous politicians do not do well during their teens years, some turn it around, some do not.
Chelsea Clinton has done pretty well despite dealing with the British tabs during her time at Oxford.
The Bush twins after normal college partying seem to have settled down.
Posted by: Ryan C | April 1, 2010, 5:24 pm 5:24 pm
Basically, the Obama administration is recognizing the obvious. Not only is work life balance vital for workers, it is essential for employers.
According to a Harvard study, men who report a better work life balance are more productive at work and more loyal to their employers.
When you combine that with the fact that the “Millenials”–the new generation entering the workforce— are saying that work life balance is the number one thing they are looking for when seeking a job, companies who remain stuck in the old work paradigm will be left behind.
The number of men who report that work life and home life are interfering with each other is higher than ever before. (Interestingly enough, those numbers for women have stayed the same–probably because when women entered the work force en masse a few decades ago, they were still expected to do all the domestic work, too. So in other words, they’ve been swamped by work life balance issues since the beginning!) Men are wanting to be more involved with their kids, but society still grooms men to believe they are of most value to their family when they are earning money.
I give workshops and keynotes to the corporate world, focused on teaching men better work life balance skills. It helps with employee retention and productivity. And it fills a need that is becoming increasingly greater.
Posted by: Bettermen Solutions | April 1, 2010, 8:00 pm 8:00 pm
Ryan C wrote: “Her duties will be taken over by Dr. Eric Whitaker,”
.
Why didn’t he have them in the first place. How critical can a $317K job be that someone else takes on that job in addition to the one they already have. Michelle must have not been doing much of anything, or Dr. Whitaker is one heck of a worker. Wonder if his salary went up by $317K relative to those massive new responsibilities…. bet not.
Posted by: gk | April 2, 2010, 1:03 am 1:03 am
tierra wrote: “gk this country runs on the rule of law, not what you’ve read about on a right wing blog.”
.
Michelle Obama hired into the University of Chicago Hospital at a salary of approx $120K. Two months after Barak oBama is sworn in as a US Senator her salary jumps to $317K. I know, just a coincidence with you DEMOCRATS…. no quid-pro-quo, even with a $1 MILLION earmark by said senator a year later. If this were a Republican you Commies would be getting all wee-wee’d up, turning back flips, and just otherwise going ape.
Posted by: gk | April 02, 2010 at 12:59 AM and then deleted by the Democrat Defense Team here on the ABC News Corpse Blog.
Posted by: gk | April 2, 2010, 8:59 am 8:59 am
Nice replies in return of this question with solid arguments and describing everything regarding that.
Posted by: Kathline Couvillier | November 23, 2011, 11:04 pm 11:04 pm