Flexible Work Arrangements and Employee Retention: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Federal Workforces

Abstract

Over the past couple of decades the interest in flexible work arrangements has increased. This study conducted a longitudinal analysis of the effects of telework on the reduction of employee voluntary turnover. The agency-level data extracted from Office of Personnel Management’s congressional reports and central personnel data files were analyzed. The results show that agencies with more teleworkers reported less voluntary turnover. Agencies that are more supportive of employees’ teleworking also reported lower voluntary turnover. Organizational characteristics including average pay and length of service, and the proportions of different occupational categories, full-time employment, and women also turned out to have significant effects on voluntary turnover of employees.