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Results of Survey On Work-Life Balance Administered by Caregiver Support Working Group of The New School Social Justice Committee

2014-2015

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464 Total responses received.

Survey sent to students, faculty, and staff in email announcing lactation booths from Caregiver Support Working Group of Social Justice Committee on 12/9/14.

19 Questions on a variety of social justice, work-life balance, and care-giving issues.

Q1: Indicate your role(s) within The New School:Answered: 464 Skipped: 0

•Diverse responses from staff, students and faculty•Largest groups were full-time staff (41%) and graduate students (23%)

Q1: Indicate your role(s) within The New School:Answered: 464 Skipped: 0

Q2: Gender:Answered: 459 Skipped: 5

Majority of respondents were female (78%)

Q2: Gender:

Answered: 459 Skipped: 5

Q3: Indicate the number of children under 18 years of age that are currently under your care:

Answered: 454 Skipped: 10

39% care for at least one child.

Q3: Indicate the number of children under 18 years of age that are currently under your care:

Answered: 454 Skipped: 10

Q4: I am currently a caregiver for a sick, disabled, or elderly person(s):Answered: 446 Skipped: 18

17% care for at least one sick, disabled, or elderly person.

Q5: How flexible is your New School department and/or office with respect to your family and/or caregiver responsibilities?

Answered: 403 Skipped: 61

50% said that their department or office was “somewhat flexible” or “very flexible” about care-giving responsibilities.

Q6: A flexible school and/or work schedule would be most suitable for me:

Answered: 402 Skipped: 62

86% “agree” or “strongly agree” that a flexible schedule would be suitable.

Q7: The New School policies support my family and/or caregiver responsibilities in regards to amount of time off, paid leave, course registration, scheduling, health insurance benefits, etc:

Answered: 404 Skipped: 60

•Widely distributed responses:•31% “agree” or “strongly agree”•28% neutral•27% “disagree” or “strongly disagree”

Q7: The New School policies support my family and/or caregiver responsibilities in regards to amount of time off, paid leave, course registration, scheduling, health insurance benefits, etc:

Answered: 404 Skipped: 60

COMMENTSWide variety of comments.

Positive:•Supervisor or department allows working for home, rescheduling hours as needed.•Student registered with Student Disability Services receives accommodations.•Online and part-time students have flexibility for caregiving.•Department allows faculty to choose course times.

Negative:•Heavy workloads and inflexible scheduling.•Inadequate leave time.•Eligibility for health care for part-time faculty.•Supervisors need additional training on policy.•No policy regarding telecommuting.

Q8: The New School policies are sufficient for me to incorporate my own self care, including sick leave, preventive care, fitness, bereavement, etc:

Answered: 354 Skipped: 110

•Again, widely distributed responses:•35% “agree” or “strongly agree”•25% neutral•32% “disagree” or “strongly disagree”

Q8: The New School policies are sufficient for me to incorporate my own self care, including sick leave, preventive care, fitness, bereavement, etc:

COMMENTSWide variety of comments.

Positive:•Generous vacation benefit.•Department is flexible with scheduling.•Satisfied with health insurance and bereavement leave.

Negative:•Insufficient policies.•Inflexible student attendance policies.•No flex time for staff.•Heavy workloads. •Anti-family culture.•Lack of fitness facilities.•Lack of childcare.•Lack of subs for instructors.

Q9: Indicate any additional support desired (check all applicable boxes):Answered: 328 Skipped: 136

Most desired are: Flexible Hours (59%), On-site Childcare (52%) Tele-commuting (47%).

Q9: Indicate any additional support desired (check all applicable boxes):Answered: 328 Skipped: 136

Q9: Indicate any additional support desired (check all applicable boxes):

COMMENTS

Support desired: Onsite childcare and/or childcare supportHealth servicesDiverse course structuresFlex timePaid caregiving leave

Q10:  If you have ever experienced any discrimination at The New School related to your caregiver responsibilities, were you able to access the help you needed? If not, what kind of support would have helped you take action, and feel protected and supported? (Feel free to interpret this question to include any adversity at The New School that you associate with your caregiver role): - Open-Ended Response

COMMENTSWide variety of responses, both positive and negative.

Positive comments•9 respondents answered that they had not experienced discrimination.•Several respondents mentioned supervisors who are supportive and accommodating.

Negative:

•Lack of childcare support, proper lactation facilities, diaper-changing facilities, student housing for families and caregivers.

Q10:  If you have ever experienced any discrimination at The New School related to your caregiver responsibilities, were you able to access the help you needed? If not, what kind of support would have helped you take action, and feel protected and supported? (Feel free to interpret this question to include any adversity at The New School that you associate with your caregiver role): - Open-Ended Response

Negative (cont.):

•Inadequate leave for caring for a sick family member, inadequate parental leave, no flex time, inadequate financial support

•Inflexibility in scheduling of classes

•Judgment, lack of support, and discriminatory comments from instructors, supervisors, offices, etc.

•Heteronormative policies

Q11:  What suggestions do you have for The New School related to caregiving support and work-life balance? How can the SJC Caregiver Work Group advocate on your behalf for better resources?

COMMENTS

Specific suggestions:  Childcare.Telecommuting.Flex time.Paid leave.

Q12: As of September 2, 2013, New School administrative employees may carry over 33 vacation days earned in previous years. Thereafter, the maximum amount of days which may be carried over from year to year will be as follows: effective September 1, 2014, 22 days will carry over, and effective September 7, 2015, a maximum of 11 days will carry over to the following year. Part-time administrators' vacation days carry over will be pro-rated. Based on this change in policy, my work-life balance will be negatively impacted.

Of those applicable, 58% would have had work-life balance negatively impacted by this change in policy.

Q13: In 2010, the Affordable Care Act was amended to require employers to provide caregivers with a "reasonable break time whenever they need to express milk for the first year of the baby's life. Caregiver's are to be given access to a private room where they will not be interrupted by coworkers or others. This room must NOT be a bathroom...there should not be a toilet in the room. There should also be an electrical outlet for pumps." Did you know that this employer requirement existed?

Answered: 337 Skipped: 127

Most (61%) were not aware of lactation booth requirement.

Q13: In 2010, the Affordable Care Act was amended to require employers to provide caregivers with a "reasonable break time whenever they need to express milk for the first year of the baby's life. Caregivers are to be given access to a private room where they will not be interrupted by coworkers or others. This room must NOT be a bathroom...there should not be a toilet in the room. There should also be an electrical outlet for pumps." Did you know that this employer requirement existed?

Answered: 337 Skipped: 127

Q14: Do you foresee needing access to a lactation room on campus?Answered: 341 Skipped: 123

31% have used or foresee needing a lactation room on campus.

Q14: Do you foresee needing access to a lactation room on campus?Answered: 341 Skipped: 123

Q15: Have you used an undesignated space or designated lactation room to express milk at The New School?

Answered: 339 Skipped: 125

15% have used university space for lactation.

Q15: Have you used an undesignated space or designated lactation room to express milk at The New School?

Answered: 339 Skipped: 125

Q16: If you used space to express milk at The New School, did it meet the following standards. (Check all applicable boxes):

Answered: 283 Skipped: 181

Of those applicable, 40% expressed milk in a room that met requirements, and 40% had expressed milk in a bathroom (does not meet requirements).

Q16: If you used space to express milk at The New School, did it meet the following standards. (Check all applicable boxes):

Answered: 283 Skipped: 181

Q17-18. Lactation-related questions. Not yet coded.

Q19. Feedback? Comments? Experiences to share? - Open-Ended Response

COMMENTS

ThanksSupport for CSWGChildcareLactation booths

Summary of Survey

Work-life balance is a challenge for the many caregivers in our community. The Caregivers Group has already helped address some of the issues raised in this survey (lactation spaces and diaper-changing facilities).The survey shows that there is still much room for improvement. Students, faculty, and staff have diverse needs. For example, there are no university-wide policies for pregnant or parenting students. Many part-time faculty members do not have health care. There is no policy regarding staff who wish to telecommute.Overall, the one common need that was consistently raised was the need for on-site childcare or childcare support.