Redefining the Family-Friendly Workplace

Rohini Anand

Senior Vice President and Global Chief Diversity Officer, Sodexo

Modern technology and the expanding global economy have erased what was once a clear delineation between the demands of the office and the responsibilities of home. The pace of work combined with professional obligations routinely impose on time that was historically dedicated to family life.  The result is employees who feel stressed, frustrated and overwhelmed.

Researchers define the competing demands of career and personal life as work-family conflict.  According to a study published in the American Sociological Review work-family conflict is increasingly common among U.S. workers, with about 70 percent reporting struggles with balancing work and non-work obligations. Some of the consequences are considered to be job strain, absenteeism, disengagement, sleep disturbances and decreased satisfaction. In response, the 2015 Workplace Trends Report found that many organizations are implementing formal and informal “family-friendly” provisions to help employees better manage their work and family responsibilities while simultaneously reducing work-family conflict.