New research from the University of Minnesota suggests that allowing employees to change when and where they work based on individual needs and responsibilities positively affects the work-family interface. It also reduces turnover, according to sociology professors Erin Kelly and Phyllis Moen.
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Download NowThey collected data from surveys of more than 600 employees and company records from Minnesota-based Best Buy®. The information was gathered before and after implementation of an initiative known as ROWE, for results-only work environment.
ROWE focuses on measurable results more than on a set work schedule and location. Best Buy employees can routinely change when and where they worked without seeking permission from a manager or even notifying one.
"Previous research has not been able to assess whether workplace policies or initiatives succeeded in reducing work-family conflict or increasing work-family fit," said Kelly. ROWE found that increasing schedule control improved the work-family fit and reduced conflict for employees with varying work demands.
The researchers also identified positive benefits for the employer, including a 45 percent reduction in turnover. The study was funded as part of the Work, Family & Health Network. It is a collaboration of organizations led by CDC and the National Institutes of Health to improve the health of workers and their families while benefiting organizations
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