Family Care Policies and Programs

In this chapter we discuss the research related to family care policies and programs. Specifically, we discuss the evidence related to employee and organizational consequences of family care practices. We also explain how these consequences occur using work-life balance theories such as role conflict, family demands and resources, and social exchange. We then describe specific family care practices such as childcare and eldercare services, family-leave policies, time-off programs, assistance programs, and other services. We then examine the conditions that moderate the overall effectiveness of family care practices—personal, organizational, and environmental conditions.