Effective work-life balance support for various household structures
- Publication date
- 2010
- Publisher
Abstract
Today’s workforce encompasses a wide variety of employees with specifi c
needs and resources when it comes to balancing work and life roles. Our
study explores whether various types of work-life balance support measures
improve employee helping behavior and performance among single employees,
employees with a partner, and employees with a partner and children.
Using a sample of 482 employees at 24 organizations, the results showed that
the organization’s work-family culture improved work performance among
parents but reduced performance among singles. Singles’ work outcomes
improved, however, when they had access to fl exible work arrangements,
whereas couples benefi ted from their supervisors’ social support. The results
stress the importance of the employee’s household structure when considering
appropriate support for balancing work and life roles.