Workplace policies that provide flexible scheduling, leave for caregiving, and assistance with family care likely benefit employers in recruitment, retention, productivity, and health care costs. The benefits to employees seem obvious. Researchers, however, are just beginning to move beyond correlational, descriptive studies into rigorous intervention research. These new investigations examine not only the effects of formal policies, whether federal law or company HR initiatives, but changes in workplace cultures. Work-Life Policies assembles a diverse group of commentators—industrial psychologists, labor organizers, policy analysts, management scholars, organizational psychologists, and others—to offer fresh ideas and new insight. The contributors examine organizational policies, municipal policies, state policies, and federal policies, as well as workers who vary from salaried professionals to part-time hourly workers.
"Work-Life Policies is an up-to-date summary of current research and a thoughtful commentary on the political and social challenges of our multidecade effort in the United States to create policies supportive of working families. Especially welcome is its detailed attention to policies for hourly workers. Chapters address not only the creation of organizational, state, and national policies, but also the ways both job design and workplace culture influence how workers use such policies. With chapters by scholars in development, psychology, sociology, social work, and management, as well as by labor leaders, the book exemplifies that bridging disciplines is essential for us in the work and family arena."
—Toby L. Parcel, Professor of Sociology, North Carolina State University
"Crouter and Booth take a fascinating approach in their edited volume, Work-Life Policies, with the four lead chapters forming the basis for reflective commentaries by an interdisciplinary group of discussants. The scholars apply research on formal work-life policies and informal work-life culture to suggest novel approaches to policy implementation. Among the unique features of this volume is its attention to hourly workers and to rigorous intervention studies. This book offers a look into innovative emerging research that has the potential to significantly change the work and family field."
—Leslie B. Hammer, Director, Center for Work-Family Stress, Safety, and Health, Portland State University
"This is an outstanding collection from leading scholars in the work-life field. It is on the cusp of emerging work-life policies, is grounded in sound empirical research, and has theoretical and practical appeal to workplaces, family and organizational scholars, and work-life policymakers. It is an essential policy resource for those concerned with the transformation of the workforce, shifting forms of care, the impact of technology, and changing ideals and practices in workplace design."
—Kerry Daly, Associate Dean of Research, College of Social and Applied Human Sciences, University of Guelph
