This is very important work, but I might alter the thesis. To me, the headline should read, “Men with a better work life balance are happier than those without.”

Clearly, if a man is at home enough to be doing more housework and raising his kids, the more time he is away from the office. He is obviously not the 70-hour-work-week-work-a-holic dad who is busting his hump to do what society still tells him he needs to do for his family—earn lots of money. I’m guessing that a lot of those “happier men” have the courage to say to their employers, “I love my job and will do it well, but you need to recognize the challenges I am facing as a working father.”

Therein lies part of the problem. Society and work place culture see women as “working mothers” but we still largely see men as just “workers.” Men have watched as women have been victimized for being put on the “mommy track” and are therefore often reluctant themselves to take advantage of workplace policy which could alleviate the stress of work life imbalance.

What will it take to change? It will take more brave men to wear fatherhood rather than face-time at the office as a badge of honour. It will take more progressive employers who need to recognize that they need to be “father friendly” and not just “family friendly.” And it will take more women advocating for men’s work life balance. That would result in happier employees, higher productivity, better retention and recruitment, more harmony at home and more women breaking through the glass ceiling. In short, it is good for everyone.

I run a company out of Canada called Bettermen Solutions I travel the globe to do men’s work-life audits, corporate workshops and keynotes and show companies how to make the aforementioned improvements by recognizing and dealing with the unique work life balance challenges faced by men.