The Organizational Effects of Workplace Family Policies

Abstract

In the absence of the national policies of Western Europe that facilitate the integration of family and work roles, workplace family policies and programs are important supports for some Americans. However, such employer initiatives depend on claims of organizational benefits. In this context, evaluation research on the organizational effects of policies is highly germane. This article discusses some past weaknesses of such research, recent methodological improvements, and conceptual refinements and research findings about important characteristics of work/family policies, varying organizational outcomes, and relationships between the two.