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The Relationship Between Work-Life Policies and Practices and Employee Loyalty:A Life Course Perspective

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Abstract

Using a representative sample of 3,381 American workers, this study investigates relationships among work/life policies, informal support, and employee loyalty over the life course (defined by age and parental status and age of youngest child). The central thesis is that our understanding of the impact of work/life policies on employee loyalty will be enriched by consideration of the non-work and work contexts that influence employee attitudes and behavior. The relationship between employee child care policies and loyalty varies for women and men at different stages of parenthood. Flexible-time policies have a consistent, positive association with employee loyalty with some variation based on life stage. Informal support (via supervisors and co-workers) has the greatest positive relationship with employee loyalty.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, Hope College, Holland, MI, 49423

    Patricia V. Roehling

  2. Cornell Employment and Family Careers Institute, Cornell University, USA

    Patricia V. Roehling

  3. Michigan State School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Michigan State University, Kedzie Hall, East Lansing, MI, 48824

    Mark V. Roehling

  4. Cornell University, 259 Martha Van Rensselaer Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853-4401

    Phyllis Moen

Authors
  1. Patricia V. Roehling
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  2. Mark V. Roehling
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  3. Phyllis Moen
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Roehling, P.V., Roehling, M.V. & Moen, P. The Relationship Between Work-Life Policies and Practices and Employee Loyalty:A Life Course Perspective. Journal of Family and Economic Issues 22, 141–170 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016630229628

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