On Monday I'll be returning to my career after a year at home with my baby boy. My workplace has always treated me very well; they're the kind of employers that value and reward hard work, and I am eager to return and show them that even though I'm now a mom, I can still be a top performer.

But my life has changed substantially since I've had my son. I want to do a good job for my employer, and I still want to make a great salary, but I'm no longer willing to work 15-hour days. I want to find a balance that allows me to enjoy my family, take care of my health, and do a fabulous job at work. A flexible Friday is more important to me than a company car.

My new priorities, apparently, are part of a growing trend of North Americans who are looking for work/life balance perks as a top priority when searching for employers.

According to this CNN article, companies looking to attract top talent are offering improved health care, more vacation days, and flexible work hours. The days of luxury company cars and flashy restaurant meals seem to be gone as employees are shifting their priorities toward more pragmatic causes.

One expert says, "It's the younger generation. They want to experience life. They don't want to work as hard as they've seen their parents work."

For me, it's true. I want to work hard but not at the cost of neglecting my time with my family. Life's way too short.