Diane Guthrie

Investigating work‐family policy aims and employee experiences

Purpose – This study seeks systematically to investigate the extent to which the documented aims of formal work-family policies are being achieved at the level of individual employees. Design/methodology/approach – Consistency between policy and practice in the case study organization was explored via an analysis of organizational documents which described work-family policies and 20 interviews with employed women with dependent children. Findings – Results show that the use of flexible work arrangements was consistent with aims related to balance and productivity. However, women’s experiences and perceptions of part-time employment conflicted with policies aiming to support the same career opportunities as full-time employees. Research limitations/implications – The nature of the organization and its policies as well as certain characteristics of the sample may limit the generalizability of findings to other sectors and groups of employees. Practical implications – The research highlights the need to assess whether work-family policies are experienced as intended, a process which may contribute to future policy development and assist human resource specialists to promote genuine balance between work and non-work responsibilities. Originality/value – The results inform the current understanding of how organizational policy translates into practice.

Good Mothers, Bad Mothers: Exploring the Relationship Between Attitudes Towards Nonmaternal Childcare and Mother’s Labour Force Participation

Normative beliefs of motherhood include a number of culturally prescribed constructs that account for how mothers should think, feel, and behave, which impact on maternal labour force participation (LFP). This study investigates a central element of these normative beliefs, that is, attitudes towards nonmaternal childcare and maternal LFP, using survey (N = 112) and interview (N = 24) data derived from a sample of mothers who were employees and ex-employees of an Australian University. Results show that while at-home women held negative views of all nonmaternal childcare, women working parttime believed nonmaternal care is acceptable if for a limited period of time and where the child is likely to derive developmental benefits. Women working full-time were more positive about nonmaternal care, although a substantial degree of guilt and ambivalence was expressed. The results inform the current understanding of normative beliefs of motherhood in Western societies and may contribute to the development of targeted policies that support families in their employment and care-giving responsibilities.