Finding an Extra Day a Week: The Positive Influence of Perceived Job Flexibility on Work and Family Life Balance

Keywords

flexplace, flextime, job flexibility, telecommuting, virtual office, work and family

Abstract

This study examines the influence of perceived flexibility in the timing and location of work on work‐family balance. Data are from a 1996 International Business Machines (IBM) work and life issues survey in the United States (n= 6,451). Results indicate that perceived job flexibility is related to improved work‐family balance after controlling for paid work hours, unpaid domestic labor hours, gender, marital status, and occupational level. Perceived job flexibility appears to be beneficial both to individuals and to businesses. Given the same workload, individuals with perceived job flexibility have more favorable work‐family balance. Likewise, employees with perceived job flexibility are able to work longer hours before workload negatively impacts their work‐family balance. Implications of these findings are presented.

Original Publication Citation

Hill, E. J., Hawkins, A. J., Ferris, M., & Weitzman, M. (2001). Finding an extra day a week: The positive effect of job flexibility on work and family life balance. Family Relations 50(1), 49-58. doi: 10.1111/j.1741-3729.2001.00049.x

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2004-02-19

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/5139

Publisher

Family Relations

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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