About Us

Work/Life programs and policies are designed to create more flexible, responsive work environments supportive of commitments to community, home, and loved ones.

As the nation’s largest employer, with a workforce committed to safeguarding the health, security, and well being of all Americans, the Federal Government recognizes that great work/life policies, programs, and practices make good business sense.

We strive to create a diverse, effective, engaged workforce, ready to meet the needs of the American public, by enabling Federal employees to be committed to their own healthy careers, families, and communities.

Work/Life at OPM

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) provides work/life leadership to the Federal Government by:

• Partnering with Federal agencies to help them develop and manage excellent work/life programs that meet the human capital needs of the Federal workforce; and
  
• Providing the policies and guidance that form the foundation of these programs.

The services we provide include:

• Consultation on developing work/life policies and establishing and marketing work/life programs;
• Training for managers and staff on a variety of work/life programs;
• Resource development, including networking conferences, as well as materials provided through our website;
• Advocacy;
• Collaboration;
• Policy and guidance development; and
• Legislative analysis.

Staff

Marie L'Etoile is the manager of the Work/Life Group (WLG) in the Strategic Human Resources Policy Division of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. The WLG develops policies and provides guidance on work/life programs to all Federal agencies.

Marie has been with OPM for more than 20 years. She has worked in various offices within OPM primarily in retirement and insurance. Before moving to the WLG, she was a project manager in OPM's Retirement Systems Modernization office. She has also worked with the Social Security Administration and in the Department of Defense Civilian Personnel Management Service. Marie has a BS in languages and linguistics from Georgetown University.

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Alisa Green is a Work/Life Program Specialist in the Strategic Human Resources Policy Division of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. In this capacity, Ms. Green develops policy and provides guidance on work/life policy and programs to all Federal agencies, with an emphasis on Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and elder/adult dependent care.

Prior to joining OPM, Ms. Green was with the Work/Life Center at the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for over five years, first as a Program Specialist and then as the Manager. Before coming to the Federal Government, Ms. Green worked in an academic setting coordinating admissions, internships, and professional development for graduate students, and prior to that she was an information specialist for a community-based substance abuse prevention program.

Ms. Green holds a Bachelor's Degree in Comparative Area Studies and French from Duke University , and a Master's Degree in Health/Fitness Management from American University. Additionally, she has earned the Work/Life Certificate from Boston College.

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Barbara Kaplan is a Work/Life Program Specialist in the Strategic Human Resources Policy Division of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. In this capacity, Ms. Kaplan develops policies and provides guidance on work/life programs to all Federal agencies, with an emphasis on Telework and the Federal Child Care Subsidy Program.

Prior to joining OPM, Ms. Kaplan was the Work/Life Manager at American Re-Insurance Company, Princeton, NJ, for over 7 years. There, she managed the work/life function and community giving. Before assuming her Work/Life position at American Re-Insurance Company, Ms. Kaplan served as a Business Analyst and Project Manager, overseeing the implementation of a computer system.

Additionally, Ms. Kaplan was a Community Services Director at the American Heart Association and an Account Representative at the New York Blood Center.

Ms. Kaplan holds a Bachelor's Degree in Communications from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. She was one of the first 10 professionals in the country to earn the Work/Life Certificate from Boston College.

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Lucy Polk is a Work/Life Program Specialist in the Strategic Human Resources Policy Division of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. In this capacity, Ms. Polk develops policy and provides guidance on work/life policy and programs to all Federal agencies, with an emphasis on health promotion.

In the field of exercise, Ms. Polk is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Council on Exercise in a variety of disciplines. She is also certified by the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research as a Health Promotion Director and with the American Association of LifeStyle Counselors, as a LifeStyle Management Counselor.

Recent positions she has held include Wellness/Fitness Coordinator for the Defense Contract Management Agency, and Community Health and Fitness Coordinator in Heidelberg, Germany. Ms. Polk has been instrumental in leading the government-wide initiative on HealthierFeds.