The following summary of findings, gathered from both academic studies and company experiences over the past ten years, show why work-life programs are critical to work force productivity and commitment.

• In March of 1999, six out of every ten mothers of children under the age of 3 were in the labor force. Seven out of every ten mothers of children age 3 to 5 also worked outside the home. Over three-quarters of women who have school-age children are employed. By the next decade, it is likely that working women will outnumber working men. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1999)

• Married or single mothers of very young children were likely to work at least part time: 59 percent of the women with babies younger than a year old were employed in 1998, compared with 31% in 1976. (Census Bureau Report, 1998)

• In 1999, both parents were employed in 64.1 percent of married couple families with children under 18, while the father, but not the mother was employed in 29.1 percent of these families. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2001)

• More than 10 million workers are single parents. Single fathers also need child care. One in every six single parents is a father. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1999)

• U.S. employers lose $3 billion a year due to child care related absences. (Amy Gage, St. Paul Pioneer Press columnist, Minnesota Center for Corporate Responsibility speech, 1998)

• 29 percent of employed parents experienced some kind of child care breakdown in the past three months, and those child care breakdowns were associated with absenteeism, tardiness, and reduced concentration at work. (1997 National Study of the Changing Workforce, Families and Work Institute)

• Employees experiencing conflict between work and family demands are three times more likely to consider quitting (43 percent vs. 14 percent). (1997 National Study of the Changing Workforce, Families and Work Institute)

• Employees who have supportive work environments report greater job satisfaction and more commitment to helping their companies succeed. (1997 National Study of the Changing Workforce, Families and Work Institute)

• Less than 5 percent of companies offer back-up or emergency child care, though this is generally one of the most critical needs mentioned by employees in surveys, and directly affects absenteeism, tardiness, and turnover. (1998 Business Work-Life Study, Families and Work Institute)