Gen-X Relationships in perspective this Valentine's Day

(CNW)As couples prepare to mark Valentine's Day, Shepell-fgi's new report on New Generation Relationships show that Canadians between 30 and 40 years of age seek help for their relationships at a disproportionate rate to the rest of the country.
    
"I think this is indicative of the flux state many Canadians in this age group are in," said Rod Phillips, President and CEO of Shepell-fgi. "This is the age when you contemplate marriage - sometimes entering it or even ending an earlier marriage. You also are thinking about starting a family and the direction of your career. All these issues are inter-related and issues in one area can directly impact another."
    
The report found that almost one quarter of all Employee Assistance Program accesses were for help with relationship issues, and that rates in western Canada were higher than the rest of the country. As well, findings that younger couples are more likely to enter common-law relationships where both partners are employed compared to older counterparts, there is a higher incidence of relationship discord than in prior generations. Within this group, relationship satisfaction is lowest with a child in the household due to constant communication and negotiation over child rearing.
    
The study also highlights an apparent spillover effect from marital issues. Higher levels of marital conflict lead to lower job productivity and higher absenteeism, making supports for relationship stability and satisfaction of interest to employers. Thirty-one per cent of those seeking EAP support for relationship issues report the relationship issues were interfering "quite a bit" to "extremely" with their normal interactions at work and with friends, according to supporting research.
    
"This shows it's critical that managers and people leaders ensure that their employees - particularly those under age 40 - have access to support for relationship issues," said Karen Seward, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Marketing. "Employers need to understand this impacts productivity which will impact their bottom line."
    
"Valentine's Day has become a relationship catalyst," said Paula Allen, Vice President of Health Solutions and the Shepell-fgi Research Group. "Many people use the day to enter into a more serious commitment or choose to end a relationship. If it is the latter, it can help to seek counselling or support to ensure you're making the right decision, not a decision prompted by a date on the calendar."