Readers weigh in on work-life balance

Share your thoughts and see what other readers are saying.

Making time for both work and family is always a challenge. But in surveys of graduates of Harvard and the University of Chicago, Claudia Goldin and Lawrence Katz find that financial-sector workers have the hardest time striking this balance—even compared to workers in fields with reputations for being demanding, such as medicine and law. Goldin says students should keep these findings in mind when weighing career choices. We're asking our readers:

Did you consider work-life balance in choosing your first job? How have these concerns affected your career choices since?

We hope you'll join the conversation by leaving a comment below. (This discussion is moderated, so your comment will not appear immediately.)

Most popular

Harvard Revamps Controversial Public Health School Center

The health and human rights center had drawn attention for its Palestine-related program.

Harvard Students, Alumna Named Rhodes and Marshall Scholars

Nine Rhodes and five Marshall scholars will study in the U.K. in 2026.

Explore More From Current Issue

Wolfram Schlenker wearing a suit sitting outdoors, smiling, with trees and a building in the background.

Harvard Economist Wolfram Schlenker Is Tackling Climate Change

How extreme heat affects our land—and our food supply 

A woman (Julia Child) struggles to carry a tall stack of books while approaching a building.

Highlights from Harvard’s Past

The rise of Cambridge cyclists, a lettuce boycott, and Julia Child’s cookbooks

A diverse group of adults and children holding hands, standing on varying levels against a light blue background.

Why America’s Strategy For Reducing Racial Inequality Failed

Harvard professor Christina Cross debunks the myth of the two-parent Black family.