多花点时间与爱你的人在一起
现在的问题不是为什么加拿大人把更多的时间花在工作上，更少的时间花在家里了，现在的问题是加拿大打算怎样解决这个问题。

Posted Monday, February 26, 2007

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The question really isn't why Canadians are spending more time at their jobs and less time with their families. The question is what are Canadians willing to do about this situation.

加拿大统计局的一项新调查发现，打工阶层2005年每天花在家里的时间比20年前少了45分钟。统计局说，这些时间的大头消耗在了工作上。
A new Statistics Canada study finds workers spent 45 minutes less with their families in 2005 than they did almost two decades earlier. And most of that time was gobbled up by work commitments, says Stats Canada.

统计局说这一结果让他们感到惊讶。以前的研究都表明所谓“更注重呆在一快的一代”－那些80后出生的人－并不乐意象婴儿潮一代或者更老的那代人那样把疯狂工作。
Its officials say these results surprised them. Previous studies showed that members of the so-called "nexus generation" ?C those born after 1980 ?C weren't interested in working themselves ragged, as the baby boomers and generation Xers have done.

的确，一天45分钟看起来并不多。但是，如果把每天加起来，那就不得了了。True, 45 minutes every day might not seem like much. But do the math, the time adds up.

以全年260个工作日来计算，这相当于2005年打工阶层与家人在一起的时间比1986年少了195个小时。加拿大统计局说那几乎是每周工作40小时的五个工作周。
Based on a 260-day work year, it means 195 fewer hours spent with the family in 2005 than in 1986. Stats Canada says that's almost five, 40-hour work weeks.

这一代以及上几代加拿大人身上会发生这种情况的原因并不是什么秘密。人往高处走乃天经地义。正因为此，他们被迫要在事业上取得成功。
It's no secret why this happens to Canadians of this generation and past ones. People just naturally want to get ahead; they're driven to succeed at the workplace.

他们想要提升，他们想要更高的薪水，加上更好的福利和职位保证。他们想要这些，并不光是为了他们自己，也是为了他们的家庭。
They want a promotion, they want a larger salary, with better benefits and job security. They want this not only for themselves, but for their families as well.

或者他们只是想保住他们的工作，以致他们通过努力奋斗而得到的东西不会轻易失去。
Or they're just trying to hold onto their jobs, so they don't lose what they have worked so hard to attain professionally.

在这两种情况下，以及所有类似情况下，这确实能够而且已经导致了雇员把更多时间放在工作上，在回家之前再多干一件事情。或者把工作带回家来干。
In both cases, and all those in between, this can and does lead to employees working longer hours, doing one more thing before they go home. Or bringing their work home with them.

加拿大统计局还发现，除了更长的工作时间外还有别的因素在起作用。这项研究还发现有工作的人花更多的时间单独看电视，或者单独吃饭。这可能是因为现在很多家里有好几台电视。另外，在加拿大统计局看来，单独吃饭或者饭吃得快也会减少全家人在一起的时间。
But Stats Canada found there were other forces at work besides longer hours on the job. The study also found that people who work are spending more time watching TV alone, and eating alone. That might be because many households now have multiple televisions. And eating meals alone or having a quick bite together reduces family time in the eyes of Stats Canada.

不过，说到底，这是个是哪个因素先造成全家人聚少分多的问题。
In the end, however, it's a question of priorities.

我们的配偶、子女和其他家人知道，我们的工作、我们的事业，从很多角度来说都是重要的 － 而且很现实。薪水支票让你的头上有个屋顶，饭桌上有食物，身上有衣服。它还支付孩子们的体育活动、看电影、以及度假的费用。
Our spouses, children and other family members know that our jobs, our careers, are important in many ways ?C not the least of which is for practical reasons. That paycheque puts a roof over your head, food on your table and clothes on your back. It pays for minor sports, going to the movies and vacations.

但是出于同样的考虑，工作与家庭之间必须有一个平衡。一头不应该牺牲另一头的时间。But in the same breath, there has to be a balance between work and family. Time for one should not be sacrificed for the other.

1991年Robin Williams主演的电影Hook中有一个场景。他出演一个企业律师Peter Banning，24/7全天候工作，几乎没有时间留给儿子Jack和女儿Maggie。
There's a scene from Hook, a 1991 movie starring Robin Williams. He plays Peter Banning, a corporate lawyer who seems to work 24/7 and have little time for his son Jack and his daughter Maggie.

Peter的妻子Moira做出了这个评估，并向她的勤奋工作的丈夫提出忠告。“你的孩子们爱你，他们想和你一起玩。你以为这样的事情还会有几年？”她问到。
Peter's wife Moira offers this evaluation and advice to her hard-working husband. "Your children love you, they want to play with you. How long do you think that lasts?" she asks.

孩子们很快就会长大。祖父母，阿姨和叔叔总有一天会离去。家人在一起的时间应该更多，而不是更少。花多一点时间和家人在一起怎么讲也不过分。工作的时间与和家人在一起的时间相比是次要的。
Children do grow up fast. The grandparents, aunts and uncles who've always been there won't be there forever. Making more time for family, not less, cannot be emphasized enough. Work hours pale next to it.

编注：以上是加拿大最大的英文报纸－"多伦多星报"于2007年2月17日转载的Barrie Examiner的社论。东南、贾宁扬编译。