Speaking of Balance...

So maybe balance encourages ethics, but it also encourages discontent. For some reason, this doesn't surprise me. A survey by employment firm Adecco found that 20 percent of women, and 25 percent of men, say they have to pick up the slack for their "co-workers who are moms."

Few companies acknowledge any downside to work-life programs. Many send out press releases and compete to be among Working Mother magazine's best 100 companies, which weighs flexibility and time off.

Accounting firm Jefferson Wells says its policies are so attractive that 35% of its key managers are women, vs. less than 20% for Big Four accounting firms. Spokeswoman Colleen Grams says Jefferson Wells "may be particularly attractive to working moms," but e-mailed examples of men with flexible hours as they make the transition toward retirement.

Maryalice DeCamp, a mother of two teens and manager of 70 employees at Jefferson Wells' Philadelphia office, says that she knows of no undercurrent of resentment, and that fathers on staff can and do leave early to coach their children's athletic teams.

But the survey found that 38% of men say that mothers get special treatment.

Be sure to read the comments that go along with the article. Some are amusing, some are annoying, but you can sniff the resentment on both sides.

Poll finds resentment of flextime [USA Today]