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Because of the complexity of modern life and changing interfamiliar expectations, employees are finding an increasing variety of family-based reasons for being absent from work or requesting alternate schedules. It is equally important for employees to understand that a financially healthy company should care about its workers, but that financial health is based on the firm‘s ability to achieve quality productivity in every facet of its operation. At the same time that technology frees us to have greater flexibility and autonomy, work/family issues are in a time warp. When it comes to work/family balance, corporate cultures are largely inflexible. People don‘t believe they can take leave or use flex time without jeopardizing their careers. The work/family field is expanding. Today‘s work force requires synchronicity between home- and job-life. A changing work force means that organizations must help people manage their multiple responsibilities.
Most often, large companies lead the way in developing work/family policies. Programs should exist for all ages and for people at all income brackets. If companies offer flexible work arrangements and family supports to
help employees cope during difficult phases of their lives, people would take advantages of them. Flexibility gives people a sense of control and autonomy. Every segment of society must address the challenges of balancing work and family issues. Some experts say we need to evaluate not only the way people work but the amount of time people work. They agree that the work/family field remains fragmented. Everything - policies, programs, benefits, and
communications training – should fit together.
So we need:
– to train employees to work in new ways;
– to invest in the technology that allows people to work in different ways;
– to provide more basic support of people throughout their life transitions, regardless of their status of white- or blue- collar workers.