Senior Female Executives are Content With Their OwnWork-Life Integration; More Willing to...

Business Editors & Womens Issues Writers

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 19, 2000

Poll Examines Women's Attitudes about Work and Personal Interests

A new survey of senior female executives finds that women are content with their own work-life integration, despite

working long hours. According to a poll conducted at the fifth annual Ernst & Young Women's Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida this month, the vast majority of women (96 percent) work more than 45 hours in an average week, and of that group, 20 percent work more than 65 hours a week. However, despite the long hours at work, nearly 80 percent surveyed are content with their own work-life integration. The Ernst & Young conference brought together nearly 400 women partners, principals and senior management from across the U.S. and around the world to discuss key issues relating to women and leadership, and to consider various approaches for helping women excel in their respective areas.

Additionally, the Ernst & Young survey finds that if an overseas assignment became available and would help further their career development, 56 percent of women executives polled would likely accept or welcome the opportunity, despite the fact that seventy percent of them are married and 59 percent have children.

Questions about workplace issues such as career development, work-life integration and expectations - as well as personal hobbies and industry trends - were included in the survey. In an age when dot.coms are increasing the number of hours both women and men are expected to work, many women (35 percent) predict work-life integration will be the number one people issue in the next five years. Career enhancement activities also figured heavily in the poll: Having an influential mentor or sponsor was most important to a woman's career development, according to 32 percent of respondents. Women also said that consistently exceeding performance expectations (31 percent) had been important to their career development.

"Having more women in leadership positions has created an openness in the workplace about important work-life integration issues and how those issues affect women's careers and their life outside of work," said Deborah K. Holmes, national director of Ernst & Young's Office for Retention, which creates and implements initiatives that help develop and advance the careers of its talented professionals. "The Ernst & Young survey results address the importance of furthering women's careers and their work-life integration issues as companies enter the `new economy.'"

The Ernst & Young survey uncovered several important insights that help define today's typical senior woman executive:

Career

-- Seventy-four percent of respondents said they would like to retire in their
50s.

-- Developments in electronic equipment have vastly improved the professional
woman's life, including the cell phone (29 percent) and the personal computer
(34 percent). Additionally, the microwave has improved the life of the career
woman who has less time at home, according to 25 percent surveyed.

-- Seventy percent spend less than one hour per day on the Internet, not
including time spent on email. Nearly 90 percent receive between 200-400 emails
per week, and 10 percent receive more than 500 a week.

Family Demographics

-- Nearly 90 percent of respondents said they provide more than

half of their household income.

-- Sixty-seven percent of women respondents' spouses work outside

of the home. Twenty-six percent of women's husbands work at

home, and seven percent have part-time work.

-- Of those women with children, more than half (52 percent) have

two children.

Miscellaneous Findings

-- Forty-two percent said they would most like to trade places

with Oprah Winfrey for a day and 23 percent selected Eleanor

Roosevelt as the woman, no longer alive, they most admired.

-- Coca-Cola will be the most recognized brand twenty years from

now, according to 73 percent of respondents surveyed.

-- When asked if they could choose to work with a volunteer

organization that would most enhance the global economy, 55

percent said they would prefer to work on education issues.

To receive a more detailed analysis of the survey results, please contact Catherine Svoboda at (212) 773-3517.

Ernst & Young, a global leader in professional services, helps clients to quickly and confidently make financial decisions designed to enhance value. Its 77,000 people in more than 130 countries have the industry and financial experience to provide fresh perspectives on operating successfully in the new economy. Ernst & Young offers traditional audit and tax services, as well as customized services in corporate finance, online security, risk management, the valuation of intangibles and e-business acceleration. In addition, legal services are available in various parts of the world where permitted. A collection of Ernst & Young's latest ideas on the new economy can be found at www.ey.com/thoughtcenter.

Ernst & Young refers to the U.S. firm of Ernst & Young LLP and other members of the global Ernst & Young organization.