The Flexible Work and Well-Being Study
The Flexible Work and Well-Being Center at the University of Minnesota is a key node in the Work, Family, and Health Network sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Managing work and family responsibilities in the U.S. is often difficult and impacts the health and well-being of employees, their families, and the workplace. While the prevalence of "family-friendly" or "work-life" policies in U.S. workplaces has increased dramatically in recent years, there are few longitudinal studies using experimental designs that allow researchers and employers to evaluate the effects of these changes on work-family conflict, health outcomes, and organizational effectiveness.
Our previous research followed the implementation of an innovative workplace initiative, the Results-Only Work Environment, at the Best Buy headquarters. Our more recent research investigates how similar changes in the workplace affect employees, families, and the organization. We partnered with another large, white-collar workplace and a health care organization for this study.
Insights from our research can be useful for participants, employees, and company partners, but also for the broader community of employees and employers seeking to promote employee engagement, effectiveness, and well-being, on and off the job.