Although the presentation did not directly address workplace reproductive health, she reminded participants that a supportive work environment includes reproductive health issues. Dr. Duxbury provided historic and current information on work-life balance, and included personal insights for making the business case for healthier workplaces. Today the gender difference has disappeared and working fathers as well as working mothers are finding it harder to cope. One third of families would drop to below the low-income line if one partner stopped working. Cultural change also accounts for the increased interest in work-life balance.
Today there are many more women in the workplace.
Two working parents make up the majority of Canadian families and the number of single parent families is on the rise. While demographics have changed drastically, the policies and systems designed to address the needs of the family have not stayed in touch with current reality. In addition, dependant care is quickly emerging as a serious issue for Canadian working families. Ten years ago 1 in 12 Canadians cared for elders. Currently 1 in 3 Canadians are caring for an elderly person.