Glassdoor CEO: I refuse to work late or on weekends in front of my kids—I'd rather return to my office.

Some CEOs believe work-life balance is a myth, while others maintain it's crucial to their success.

Christian Sutherland-Wong, Glassdoor CEO, worked his way up from vice president of product in 2015 to leading the jobs website in 2020. With over 500 employees under his leadership, he tries to limit his work during off-hours, especially in front of his two young kids.

"Sutherland-Wong, 44, says that he wants to lead his children by avoiding digital products and being present in the moment. He works remotely five days a week and uses his flexibility to spend quality time with his kids, put them to bed, and then get back online."

Sutherland-Wong prefers to handle pressing matters from his home office rather than answering emails and calls while with his children. He does this to maintain "space" between his roles as CEO and father.

A 2024 Pew Research Center report found that 46% of teenagers aged 13 to 17 feel their parents are distracted by their phones during conversations with them. Additionally, research published in 2022 revealed a correlation between parents being glued to their phones and children experiencing stress or emotional detachment.

Researchers Robin L. Nabi and Lara N. Wolfers found that when parents are engrossed in their devices, their faces become "still" - emotionless, uninterested, and unresponsive to their surroundings. Children may interpret these expressions as a sign that their parent is unavailable, distressed, or depressed, the researchers added.

"Parents' preoccupation with their phones can limit their interaction and feedback with their children, according to Nabi, a communications professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Kids respond to their parents, and regardless of the content a parent is viewing on their phone, the child perceives a lack of responsiveness."

Nabi emphasizes the importance of keeping phones away during family time, such as at the dinner table. Similarly, parents can prioritize homework time or their children's sports games and recitals, and complete work later. This, according to Nabi, will greatly benefit their children's lives.

"Nabi advised parents to be more aware of how frequently they use their phones in front of their children, as it sends a message about what is important."

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