WORK/LIFE BALANCE
The feedback received to the question about the 2012 Olympics was given BEFORE the late announcement was made that a further 3000+ Service personnel would be recalled to provide security during the event. Many families who provided additional feedback after this announcement felt that yet again the Armed Forces were being called in to provide cover and that the impact on family commitments and summer leave plans had simply been disregarded by the Government.
When asked about the Serving family member’s work life balance, 52% of voters said they did not believe they achieved a good balance. Further analysis shown at Figure 22 identified that both cadres felt the same way.
Figure 22:
“A good work/life balance is difficult to achieve when you live apart for most of the time. We have not been able to live together in our own property for the last 6 years.”
“If I compare my husband’s work/life balance to someone posted for 6 months to the desert then of course we really can’t complain, but I do honestly believe that he works very hard and very long hours and it is the family which suffers because we do not get to see enough of him and of course he doesn’t get to see his kids growing up as much as he would like to.”
“Cancelling and/or changing leave because of Service commitments is common practice. Trying to take leave and take a holiday is a joke!”
“I love my job but the effect it has on my personal life makes me wonder if it is worthwhile. There seems to be no way that you can have a successful career and a good personal life.”
“In my career to-date I have not been able to take circa 200 days leave because of ops and work commitments. I believe we should have a system of pay for days lost for work reasons.”
“We are moving into our own home during the Olympics but I am unable to move with my family or spend time with them in our new home... a big sacrifice but one I have no choice in.”
“The Olympics, for example, has been known about for approx 6 years yet we are only 6 weeks away and the plan is still not finalised and people are being drafted in at short notice.”
www.raf-ff.org.uk 25
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