Work-Life Balance Policies in the Federal Government: What Factors are Related to Use?

The entry of women into the job market has prompted a great deal of change in the workplace, especially in terms of the relationship between employee and employer. The introduction of work-life balance policies is one such change. These policies have been adopted by many organizations and yet an inability to strike a satisfying balance between the personal and professional remains an issue for many Americans. In the course of studying the efficacy of work-life balance policies, researchers have identified “uptake” (the act of making use of a provided service or policy) as one major barrier to making the policies helpful for workers and employers. This research will investigate specific, organization-based mechanisms that affect the use of work-life balance policies using data from the 2011 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey. Previous research has failed to examine the determinants of use in an American governmental context, and because the federal government has shown exceptional dedication to supporting work-life balance, this research will provide a unique addition to the work-life balance literature.