AFL-CIO Ask a Working Woman Survey Results:

American Women Need a Raise--and More Rest!
Contact: Sarah Massey 202-445-1169
AFL-CIO Media Outreach 202-637-5018
Washington, DC, June 25
 

Economy Driving Women to Work More, Rest Less
Sixth Working America/AFL-CIO Ask a Working Woman Survey

Working women spend more time at work than ever,  they talk more to their coworkers than their family members and they have no  free time. Yet a raise is the most desired change in their work lives,  according to the sixth Working America Ask a Working Woman survey,  overtaking health care, which was the top issue in the 2006 survey.

“Working women want to spend more time with their families, but they
can’t  afford to,” says Karen Nussbaum, Executive Director of
Working America.  “Working women say they want more cash in their
wallets, even more than  other benefits, like health care. Unemployment
is up, the credit crunch is  squeezing people and gas prices are hitting
record highs. America’s working  women need a raise and a break.” 
A 10 percent raise topped affordable, high-quality health care or
childcare  as making working women’s lives easier, according to half
of the 2008 Ask A  Working Woman survey respondents. Given the economy, if working women had  more available time, they are most likely to say they would work another  job, ahead of spending more time with friends and family, exercise, taking a  class and getting more sleep. 
“Prices for everything have soared out of control while wages
stagnate,”  wrote Judith, a 2008 Ask a Working Woman respondent.

Working women also need a break. They are talking to their coworkers
more  than their children or friends. They are extremely busy and have
little time  for themselves. Thirty-seven percent say they work during
their breaks or  have no breaks. After work and family responsibilities,
a plurality of  respondents say they have an hour or less to themselves
a day (11 percent  none, 34 percent less than an hour).  A quarter say
they have two hours to  themselves, 16 percent have three hours, 10
percent have somewhere between  four and six hours, and only 4 percent
have more than six hours to  themselves.  Respondents in their 30s and
40s are particularly likely to say  they only get an hour or less to
themselves a day (58 percent and 53 percent  respectively), as are those
who are parents (72 percent). In spite of their  lack of personal time,
they are most likely to say they would work another  job if they had
free time.

“I have to choose everyday if I am going to buy food or gas to get
work. Gas  always wins, because I need my paycheck to support my family. I never have  enough money, ever.” - Kelly, a 2008 Ask a Working Woman respondent.

Working women are doing more with less, saddled with debt and facing
rising  prices. Working women are using their credit cards to pay for
durable goods  and everyday items. Six in 10 respondents have at least
some credit card  debt, and many won’t be able to pay off their credit
cards in the near  future. A quarter say they will be able to pay off
their balance within the  next year and 12 percent say within the next
two years, 18 percent say in  more than two years.  Six percent say they
will never be able to pay off  credit card debt.

Working women need a break, especially when it comes to the gender gap. “Women in the workforce need to have equality in pay and promotions - we  need to bridge this gender gap NOW!” - Jenny, a 2008 Ask a Working Woman respondent.  Almost half of respondents said they know or suspect men make  more than they do. Having children is seen as a having a negative impact on  women’s careers, while it makes little difference for men.  Eight in 10  respondents say having children hurts their career and prospects in the job  market (27 percent say hurts strongly), while only 8 percent feel having  children hurts men’s career
prospects, and 70 percent say it makes no  difference for men.

Released on June 25, the 2008 Ask a Working Woman survey report digests data  from the online survey that was conducted May 7 to June 20 from 12,000  respondents. Some 20,000 working women took the survey. This year’s survey  is the sixth edition; it has been conducted in various forms since 1997. For the survey results, please visit:
http://www.workingamerica.org/