The Changing Family and HRM Pamela L. Perrewé

Chapter Topics General environmental trends General environmental trends Labor market factors Labor market factors

Environmental Factors Globalization Globalization Technology Technology

Globalization With the increase in globalization, we need to be aware of the wider international and cultural context of work and the implications for work- life integration. With the increase in globalization, we need to be aware of the wider international and cultural context of work and the implications for work- life integration.

Globalization Contexts Gender – equality for all and the consideration of the work/family interface Gender – equality for all and the consideration of the work/family interface Multiculturalism – the need to consider attitudes of other countries towards business Multiculturalism – the need to consider attitudes of other countries towards business

Technology Allows individuals flexibility as to where and even when to work Allows individuals flexibility as to where and even when to work Work and family domains are being blurred by the expectations that individuals should be available all of the time Work and family domains are being blurred by the expectations that individuals should be available all of the time

Labor Market Factors Dual career families Dual career families The changing shape of families The changing shape of families The aging workforce The aging workforce Increased diversity Increased diversity

Dual Career Families The majority of the households today consist of two-wage earners and it appears that this trend is going to continue The majority of the households today consist of two-wage earners and it appears that this trend is going to continue Research has focused on the time pressures, demands, role juggling, and work-family conflicts that can lead to stress for working parents Research has focused on the time pressures, demands, role juggling, and work-family conflicts that can lead to stress for working parents

Positive Benefits of Multiple Roles Multiple roles can aid in psychological as well as monetary rewards Multiple roles can aid in psychological as well as monetary rewards

The Changing Shape of Families One in every three Americans is part of a step-family (DeAngelis, 2005) One in every three Americans is part of a step-family (DeAngelis, 2005) Blended families can bring about additional complexities in the work- life interface Blended families can bring about additional complexities in the work- life interface

The Changing Shape of Families Continued Increasingly, fathers are demanding a significant role in care-giving for their children Increasingly, fathers are demanding a significant role in care-giving for their children More people are choosing to begin families in the context of two gay or lesbian parents More people are choosing to begin families in the context of two gay or lesbian parents

The Aging Workforce Employees are working longer than ever before due to: Employees are working longer than ever before due to: Living longerLiving longer Healthier livesHealthier lives Wanting to continue to make significant contributions to the working worldWanting to continue to make significant contributions to the working world Needing to work due to financial concernsNeeding to work due to financial concerns

Diversity There are greater numbers of women and minorities in the workplace There are greater numbers of women and minorities in the workplace Former immigrant groups have advanced in the work hierarchy Former immigrant groups have advanced in the work hierarchy Adoption is playing an important role in the increase of diversity in families Adoption is playing an important role in the increase of diversity in families

HRM Responses Flexibility in the workplace Flexibility in the workplace Diversity and tolerance Diversity and tolerance Work life programs Work life programs

Flexibility in the Workplace Compressed work weeks – allow for a 40 hour work week in less than five days Compressed work weeks – allow for a 40 hour work week in less than five days Job sharing work schedules - allow employees to share one job Job sharing work schedules - allow employees to share one job Flextime – gives employees control over when they begin and end their day Flextime – gives employees control over when they begin and end their day

Flexibility in the Workplace Continued Paid and unpaid leave of absence Paid and unpaid leave of absence Teleworking – the ability to work from a remote location through electronic media Teleworking – the ability to work from a remote location through electronic media

Flexibility in the Workplace - Tolerance It is important that employees who take advantage of these opportunities are not punished It is important that employees who take advantage of these opportunities are not punished Top management will need to ensure that the organizational culture is tolerant of alternate work schedules Top management will need to ensure that the organizational culture is tolerant of alternate work schedules

Diversity and Tolerance Developing a culture of tolerance is important due to the diversity inherent in organizations today Developing a culture of tolerance is important due to the diversity inherent in organizations today Diversity involves not only racial and ethnic differences, but also gender, age, and life-style differences Diversity involves not only racial and ethnic differences, but also gender, age, and life-style differences

Diversity and Tolerance Continued For diversity to be effective, cultural tolerance is really the minimum requirement – organizational cultures should embrace diversity and utilize it For diversity to be effective, cultural tolerance is really the minimum requirement – organizational cultures should embrace diversity and utilize it

Work Life Programs Programs designed to provide life benefits along with work such as fitness, day care, and seminars on relevant topics to employees Programs designed to provide life benefits along with work such as fitness, day care, and seminars on relevant topics to employees

Employee Involvement The importance of employee involvement in determining the types of strategies and programs an organization embraces cannot be overstated The importance of employee involvement in determining the types of strategies and programs an organization embraces cannot be overstated

Principles of Employee Involvement Employees tend to support what they helped to create Employees tend to support what they helped to create Employees who know most about the inner functioning of an operation are those who actually perform the work Employees who know most about the inner functioning of an operation are those who actually perform the work

Outcomes of HR Responses Flexible work schedules have been found to increase productivity and job satisfaction Flexible work schedules have been found to increase productivity and job satisfaction Maintaining a culture of diversity and tolerance helps the company connect with the market and helps the company retain top employees Maintaining a culture of diversity and tolerance helps the company connect with the market and helps the company retain top employees

Outcomes of HR Responses Continued Employee involvement provides employees with a greater understanding of why decisions are made Employee involvement provides employees with a greater understanding of why decisions are made Involvement has been shown to lead to higher employee commitment to the organization as well as productivity Involvement has been shown to lead to higher employee commitment to the organization as well as productivity

Moderating Factors Factors that may affect the relationship between HR responses and outcomes include: Factors that may affect the relationship between HR responses and outcomes include: Resources within the firm to allow parental leaveResources within the firm to allow parental leave The job design of the firm to allow flexibility in working hoursThe job design of the firm to allow flexibility in working hours The ability and willingness of management to embrace changeThe ability and willingness of management to embrace change

Employee Responsibility Employees need to express their needs in order to have the type of work schedule and autonomy they desire Employees need to express their needs in order to have the type of work schedule and autonomy they desire

Social Support Social support from others can help reduce distress experienced from work-life demands Social support from others can help reduce distress experienced from work-life demands Instrumental support refers to the availability of tangible resources via other people Instrumental support refers to the availability of tangible resources via other people Emotional support refers to the act of talking with others who listen with caring ears Emotional support refers to the act of talking with others who listen with caring ears

Summary This chapter has focused on what organizations and HR professionals can do to help the work-life integration for employees This chapter has focused on what organizations and HR professionals can do to help the work-life integration for employees