5/26/2004
HUSBAND’S CAREER WORTH MOVING FOR Allied Van Lines’ Survey Finds Three in Four Wives Would Move, Despite Increased Number of Women in Workforce
Westmont, Ill. May 26, 2004 – He works, she works. He just got transferred. Will she move too?
According to a recent national survey conducted by Allied Van Lines, 77 percent of women polled said they would relocate for their husbands’ careers. Only 58 percent of men polled, however, said they would make the move.
“These findings are somewhat surprising considering the number of women in high-paying careers,” says Wayne Sotile, Ph.D., who co-authored the book Marriage Skills for Busy Couples with his wife, Mary. “This study shows that despite the steady careers many women have, family still comes first.”
Nearly 20 percent of women surveyed say their family’s opinion of moving would play an important role in their decision to relocate. Only nine percent of men rate family opinion as important. Job advancement and higher salary rank among the most important factors for both genders when considering relocating for a job.
Recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows women now represent 50.6 percent of all employees in the higher-paying management, professional and related occupations.
This is the first time since the Bureau began tracking the data 20 years ago that women hold more than half of all white-collar positions.
More than 78 percent of today’s employees are part of a dual-income couple, according to the Families and Work Institute. Getting employees to accept transfers and relocate can be a challenge not only to potential employers, but also to the emotional health of the couple, according to Sotile.
Among other recommendations (see attached), Sotile stresses that couples should make their relocation a topic of daily conversations. By doing so, he says couples can address emotional issues surrounding the move and discuss steps the trailing spouse can take to lessen the potential frustration of finding a new job.
“Voicing concerns and resolving issues before the move is critical,” he says. “And, special consideration needs to be given to the trailing spouse who may be forced to rebuild a personal and professional network that took years to develop.”
The nationwide survey, conducted by Synovate, was part of Allied’s recognition of May being the start to a busy moving season.
“With more than 21 million Americans moving between May and September each year, we understand that relocation can put a lot of pressure on a relationship,” says Tim Schneeman, general manager of Allied Van Lines, the world’s largest mover of families. “After all, moving is one of the most stressful events in life. But preparing for the move by getting a professional relocation company to help can make it a lot easier on couples and families.”
About Allied Van Lines
Established in 1928, Allied Van Lines, with more than 500 agent locations in North America, is an experienced leader in household goods moving and specialized transportation services. Allied is one of the established global brands of SIRVA, Inc., (NYSE: SIR), a leader in providing relocation services to corporations, consumers and governments around the world. To request Allied’s free “Guide to a Good Move” brochure or for more information about Allied, visit www.allied.com.
About SIRVA, Inc.
SIRVA, Inc. is a leader in providing relocation solutions to a well-established and diverse customer base around the world. The company is one of the leading global providers that can handle all aspects of relocations end-to-end within its own network, including home purchase and home sale services, household goods moving, mortgage services and insurance. SIRVA conducts more than 365,000 relocations per year, transferring corporate and government employees and moving individual consumers. The company operates in more than 40 countries with approximately 7,700 employees and an extensive network of agents and other service providers. SIRVA’s well-recognized brands include Allied, northAmerican, Global, and SIRVA Relocation in North America; Pickfords in the U.K.; Maison Huet in France; Kungsholms in Sweden; ADAM in Denmark; Majortrans Flytteservice in Norway; Arthur Pierre in Belgium; Rettenmayer in Germany; Varekamp in The Netherlands, and Allied Pickfords in the Asia Pacific region. More information about SIRVA can be found on the company’s Web site at www.sirva.com.
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