Making Changes or Feeling Like You Can: How Parents Respond to a Workplace Culture Change Initiative

Rachelle Hill, University of Minnesota
Eric Tranby, University of Minnesota
Erin Kelly, University of Minnesota
Phyllis Moen, University of Minnesota

Though research is prolific on work-family conflict, there is little research demonstrating how employers impact time-use patterns and can support working parents. This study uses data from a natural experiment to investigate the relationships between a culture change initiative (Results Only Work Environment – ROWE), work-time control, time at work and with children, work-time behaviors like telecommuting and telecommuting variability, and work-family conflict among working parents. Using longitudinal data from 215 working parents in a white-collar workplace, we examine the effect of workplace changes in time spent at work and with children as well as investigate which is more important, work-time behaviors like telecommuting or perceived control over work time for work-family conflict. We find that ROWE does not influence time-use but increases the likelihood of telecommuting and increases subjective perceptions of work-time control. Only perceived control over work time is significantly predictive of reduced work-family conflict for working parents.