title: Effects of a Flexibility/Support Intervention on Work Performance: Evidence From the Work, Family, and Health Network.
abstract: To estimate the effects of a workplace initiative to reduce work-family conflict on employee performance.
  
  
  
  A group-randomized multisite controlled experimental study with longitudinal follow-up.
  
  
  
  An information technology firm.
  
  
  
  Employees randomized to the intervention (n = 348) and control condition (n = 345).
  
  
  
  An intervention, "Start. Transform. Achieve. Results." to enhance employees' control over their work time, to increase supervisors' support for this change, and to increase employees' and supervisors' focus on results.
  
  
  
  We estimated the effect of the intervention on 9 self-reported employee performance measures using a difference-in-differences approach with generalized linear mixed models. Performance measures included actual and expected hours worked, absenteeism, and presenteeism.
  
  
  
  This study found little evidence that an intervention targeting work-family conflict affected employee performance. The only significant effect of the intervention was an approximately 1-hour reduction in expected work hours. After Bonferroni correction, the intervention effect is marginally insignificant at 6 months and marginally significant at 12 and 18 months.
  
  
  
  The intervention reduced expected working time by 1 hour per week; effects on most other employee self-reported performance measures were statistically insignificant. When coupled with the other positive wellness and firm outcomes, this intervention may be useful for improving employee perceptions of increased access to personal time or personal wellness without sacrificing performance. The null effects on performance provide countervailing evidence to recent negative press on work-family and flex work initiatives.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Economics, Bryan School of Business and Economics, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Jeremy W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bray
authors.affiliation: 2 RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Jesse M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hinde
authors.affiliation: 2 RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.affiliation: 2 RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.affiliation: 2 RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Georgia T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Karuntzos
authors.affiliation: 3 Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Katie R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Genadek
authors.affiliation: 4 Institute for Work and Employment Research, MIT Sloan School of Management, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Erin L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: 5 Purdue University Krannert School of Management, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Ellen E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Kossek
authors.affiliation: 6 Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hurtado
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D000069597:Presenteeism; D000066477:Work Performance; D000072358:Work-Life Balance / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: field experiment; performance; productivity; supervisor support; well-being; workplace flexibility; workplace intervention; work–family conflict