MANY employees are rethinking what’s most important when it comes to their career. Sixty percent of professionals surveyed by Robert Half said they are more motivated to be employed at an organization that values its staff during unpredictable times; 40% will prioritize their personal life over their job moving forward and 33% want to pursue a more meaningful or fulfilling position.

MORE employees ages 25 to 40 (68%) experienced a change of perspective due to the pandemic than respondents ages 41 to 54 (45%) and 55 and older (40%). But nearly an equal number of working parents (41%) and processionals without children (39%) reported a desire to place greater focus on personal versus professional activities.

NO surprise that a greater percentage of respondents with children (78%) than those without (66%) said windowed work – the ability to break up their day into distinct chunks of business and personal time – allows them to be more productive. Seventy-nine percent of professionals surveyed by Robert Half said their jobs allows for windowed work, and, of those respondents, 73% reported the arrangement leads to greater productivity.

YET 40% of employees 55 and older said they prefer a traditional work schedule, compared to 32% of those ages 41 to 54 and just 22% of employees ages 25 to 40. Nearly an equal number of men (75%) and women (71%) said they get more done when integrating personal and professional activities throughout the day.

A survey by Care.com of 2,000 professionals found 63% of parents who depend on daycare are now concerned about leaving their children in child care centers in light of the pandemic and another 35% of parents are contemplated at-home care for their children instead. Setting aside the fact there may be less available spots, Care. com reports the cost of a nanny has risen 20% over the past six years to $565 per week while daycare centers have increased 16% to $215 per week.