The value of 21st century work–family supports: Review and cross‐level path forward

Abstract

Summary The adoption of work–family supports (WFSs), defined as discretionary and formal organizational policies, services, and benefits aimed at reducing employees' work–family conflict and/or supporting their family roles outside of the workplace, has become a growing trend in contemporary organizational life. Yet, despite their widespread popularity and vast scholarship investigating their effects, questions remain as to the value (i.e., positive effects or benefits) they provide to organizations and their stakeholders. In this review, we carefully examine and critique current research that explores the value of WFSs conducted within different academic disciplines, across global research contexts, and using a variety of methodological approaches. We pay particular attention to understanding the different ways and conditions under which employees and organizations can benefit from WFSs, and we highlight the potential paths (i.e., why and when) through which value can be experienced. In conducting this comprehensive review, we also discuss the critical theoretical and empirical limitations associated with extant studies. Lastly, we offer a path forward and agenda to explore new and novel directions for future research, including work and family relationships and cross‐level investigations of WFSs that integrate individual, interpersonal, and organizational perspectives.

Family Supportive Supervisors Behaviour for the Sandwich Generation: Considerations for Training Practice

“…The bundle of practices of supportive measures that can take place within the workplace to support the combination of family and work receives various terms within the literature such as family supportive practices (Turgeman-Lupo, Toker, Ben-Avi, & Shenhar-Tsarfaty, 2020), work-life balance policies (Perrigino, Dunford, & Wilson, 2018), work-family supports (Masterson, Sugiyama, & Ladge, 2021), etc. ….…”

Smart Working and Online Psychological Support During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Work-Family Balance, Well-Being, and Performance

“…The role of organizations in supporting reconciliation between work and family life is significant. Work-family support is defined as discretionary and formal organizational policies, services, and benefits aimed to reduce employees' work-family conflict and/or support their family roles outside of the workplace (Masterson et al, 2020). In this regard, organizations can implement a work-family culture, characterized by shared assumptions relating to the organization's tendency to support integration between work and family life.…”

Well—That was a surprise!

“…The next two articles in this issue focus on the work‐home interface, which has been blurred for many of us over the last year during COVID‐19. In “The value of 21st century work–family supports: Review and cross‐level path forward” Masterson, Sugiyama, & Ladge (2021) review the use of organizational policies, services, and benefits aimed at reducing work–family conflict experienced by employees, and/or supporting their family roles outside of the workplace. Following their critical review of this literature, they offer novel directions for future research.…”