More than three out of four women in a nationwide survey said they would be willing to relocate for the sake of their husband’s career. If the circumstances happened to be reversed, however, the husbands would be far less cooperative.

According to a random sampling of 375 people in dual-career households, 77 percent of women and 58 percent of men said they would make the move if the spouse had a good career opportunity. The survey on behalf of Allied Van Lines was done by Synovate, a market research firm.

Nearly one out of five women said their family’s attitude about moving would be a critical element in their decision, but only 9 percent of men felt that way. Allied points out that summer is the nation’s busiest moving season, with more than 21 million Americans typically relocating from May through September.

The survey also reported that about two-thirds of people of both sexes would be unwilling to relocate overseas if their jobs required it. About half said the threat of terrorism has an impact on that decision.

Drug abusers at work: About three-fourths of the 16.6 million American adults who use illicit drugs are working either full or part time, according to recently published results from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Employers who are concerned about the problem and its effects on the workplace might find help at the U.S. Department of Labor’s Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace Web site ( www.dol.gov/dol/workingpartners.htm).

Among the items on the site are a database with hundreds of documents related to alcohol and drug abuse, directories of resources and an interactive advisory program on how companies can set up drug-free workplace policies.

Taking time for yourself: The recent column I wrote about vacations mentioned that American workers average barely a dozen vacation days a year — far fewer than most of their counterparts in Australia and Western Europe — but even the American plan sounds like a welcome relief to one reader.

“Twelve days of vacation! Wow!” she writes. “What a fantasy! The last vacation I had was in 1976.”

She explains that she has been holding down three jobs and working seven days a week just so she could bring in one adequate paycheck. She said the jobs have no fringe benefits or sick days, and many workers all over the country are in the same situation she is.

“If I took time off for a trip, I not only wouldn’t get paid, I probably wouldn’t have a job when I came back.”

If you ever find yourself feeling that way about vacations or any other workplace benefit or situation, take a step back and think about your circumstances and potential alternatives.

Is there a business argument you can make for getting more time off or having health care benefits or a pay raise?

Small-business owners can feel particularly overwhelmed by time and financial demands, but you need to explain how having time off, for example, will let you come back with more energy, leading you to do better work and be a greater asset to the company. It will also help the business retain quality workers.

It’s also good in any sort of negotiation to point out all the extra touches you add to the business — how you are able to contribute more than a bare-minimum employee would.

You don’t want to give ultimatums that you’re not willing to stick to, but you can exert subtle pressure by, for example, pointing out what salaries are at a competitor. If you’re feeling bold, you might even say something like, “If I’m really so indispensable that you can’t afford to be without me for more than two days, why am I making only 12 bucks an hour?”

What’s sad is that so many workers are afraid to even raise the subject with their bosses, fearing that they will get fired. But no decent manager will fire someone for politely making a reasonable request. You might get turned down, but you won’t get turned out.