People, even in the Academy, need to have lives. They should not be working 20-hour days, or seven-day weeks. Their minds suffer, their work suffers, and their ability to perform and excel suffers. At Nobel Intent: “Bringing flexibility to science”:

A speaker from the University of Florida described the overall goal of these programs as allowing a career with multiple exit and entry points, so that faculty may cope with various challenges in their lives without penalty or ending their careers. Several clear themes emerged as the programs were described in detail. Three institutions were using the money to set up coordinating groups with neighboring institutions to facilitate the hiring of couples where both halves are on the academic track. Once hired, the emphasis was on allowing various forms of leave in the face of newly arrived children (including via adoption), family emergencies, and illness. These leaves included relief from teaching duty, suspension of the tenure track time line, creation of a part-time faculty position, and even small “productivity maintenance” grants to help faculty stay on top of the field while on leave. One other aspect that received attention is the transition out of the lab and into retirement; several institutions planned on creating positions that allow faculty to either exit gradually or to continue to work at a reduced level.