Approach family life ‘as a team’ to improve work, life balance
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For orthopaedic physicians, commitment, structure, parental leave and partner relationships are key factors for improving work/life balance, according to a speaker at the Virtual EFORT Congress.
“I think [orthopaedic physicians] can all agree that we have increased responsibilities both at work and at home,” Cecilia Rogmark, MD, PhD, associate professor at Lund University and orthopaedic consultant at Skane University Hospital in Sweden, said in her presentation.
Rogmark highlighted her career timeline, from residency to recruitment as a national project leader for the Swedish Hip Arthroplasty Register. The same principles that allowed her to become an orthopaedic physician can also be useful when managing work and family responsibilities, Rogmark said.
“What took me here is commitment and hard work but also structure and solid family support. That support can be in many shapes: a great kindergarten service, wonderful grandparents.” she said. “There is a need to call on society to help us have a decent work/life balance.”
For high-level women in the work force, lack of formal childcare can have negative consequences on career development, Rogmark said. In countries like Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, the high availability of both formal and informal childcare allows many mothers to return to work at least 19 hours per week, while still leaving some time for mothers to spend with their children, she added.
Parental leave for both parents is another important factor for improving work/life balance, Rogmark said.
“Both mothers and fathers have caring responsibilities in a modern society, which will give us an improved gender equality in the labor market, and it’s good for the family as well,” she said.
Finding the right partner is also crucial for improving work/life balance, Rogmark said.
“Organize life as a team, because structure is needed,” she said. “Put reasonable expectations on yourself and your family. Everything must not happen at the same time. Your career is long. Childhood is short.”
“Enjoy your work,” Rogmark concluded. “It is important to acknowledge all the positive feelings you get from interesting work,” she said.
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Rogmark C. The life/work balance. Presented during: Women in orthopaedic and traumatology surgery at: Virtual EFORT Congress; Oct. 28-30, 2020.
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