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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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.