The Effects of Family Responsibilities Discrimination on Public Employees’ Satisfaction and Turnover Intentions: Can Flexible Work Arrangements Help?

Abstract

Discrimination against caregivers is a topic of interest for the public sector workplace. This study assesses the degree to which family responsibilities discrimination (FRD) can diminish work satisfaction and lead to intentions of leaving the public service. It also examines the effects of flexible work arrangements on work satisfaction and intentions to leave. Applying Mahalanobis Distance Matching, we examine the Canadian Public Service Employee Survey and find evidence that family status discrimination has some impact on employees’ intention to leave the public service and can diminish satisfaction with work arrangements. We also find that federal public servants who feel like work and family/personal obligations adversely affected their career progression were less satisfied with their work arrangements and were more likely to want to leave their positions.