| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 27, 1998 |
CONTACT: Michael Orenstein (202) 606-1800 mworenst@opm.gov |
Washington, D.C. -- If parenthood or other familial matters are pulling you in all directions, a job with the family-friendly federal government could relieve some of the tension, says a U.S. Office of Personnel Management report to Congress.
The report, A Review of Federal Family-Friendly Workplace Arrangements, says that as an employer, the federal government is a model boss that offers many family-friendly benefits to help employees balance responsibilities of their work and family lives. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) report (available at www.opm.gov/wrkfam) notes that a proper personal/professional balance leads to improved employee performance, increased retention of valued employees and a reduction in the number of unscheduled leave days used by workers.
Todays families are challenged as never before to balance the difficult demands of the workplace with tremendous responsibilities of caring for family members, said OPM Director Janice R. Lachance.
A diverse, national work force that includes increasingly more working mothers and adult children of elderly parents is a major reason for the governments investment in, and attention to, family-friendly benefits, also known as work-life benefits.
Creating a culture that is family-friendly is not only humane, but results in greater cost efficiency, increased worker commitment and productivity, better customer service and improved family life, said Lachance.
While family-friendly benefits clearly score points for government productivity, they simultaneously light-up the scoreboard for employee well-being. These benefits, the report notes, help reduce employee stress, increase parental involvement in their childrens daily lives and with their schools, and give workers more time for personal obligations.
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill asked OPM to prepare the report to assess the implementation and effectiveness of family-friendly workplace programs in federal departments and agencies. The report includes findings from employees, managers and union officials in 61 agencies representing 95 percent of the federal workforce.
Among its findings:
A number of family-friendly benefits are required by law. These include the Family and Medical Leave Act, Family-Friendly Leave Act, the Employee Assistance Program and Leave Transfer Program.
Conversely, optional benefits are not required by law or statute, but are popular with employees because of their family-friendly focus. These benefits include part-time employment, flexible work schedules, job sharing and on-site/near-site child care centers.
OPMs report notes, however, that some of the optional benefits available to employees are not being used to full advantage by agencies due to, in part, lack of consistent management support and inadequate communication with employees about benefits.
OPMs fiscal 1999 appropriation language calls for the establishment of a Family-Friendly Workplace Advocacy Office. The advocacy office, once in operation, will expand the agencys Work/Life Programs Center and broaden its outreach efforts to inform employees about the various laws and regulations, as well as avenues for redress of complaints.
The Family-Friendly Workplace Advocacy Office also will make its staff available to agencies needing guidance or technical assistance on establishing or improving comprehensive family-friendly programs.
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