He doesn't return until late Thursday night. Sunday evening means the Monday morning taxi is only a few hours away. The pair tries to cram a week's worth of life into a weekend, including car repairs, financial affairs, family visits, and packing for Jim's next trip. Laura turns down travel opportunities at her company, to protect their limited time together. In an age of dual-career families and global commerce, professionals often spend more time with their laptop computers than their spouses.
Constant travel is a source of stress for both partners, experts say.
Bograd, who for 10 years managed human resources for field offices at Digital Equipment Corp., says he's seen a shift in travel habits among men and women. It's very much balanced today. While some couples have found ways to survive a long-distance marriage, for many, the stress eventually takes its toll, Bograd said. Then something's got to go the relationship or the job. Increasingly, companies are realizing that the pressure of constant travel plays itself out, not just at home, but also at work in reduced productivity, burnout, stress-related illness, and absenteeism.