Can organisational work-life policies improve work-life interaction? A scoping review

Objective Understanding the role of organisational policies in improving work-life interaction is important, as such policies may provide a legitimate means to extend working life, potentially leading to improved retention in a number of sectors. This review aimed to critique contemporary literature on the relationship between employee work-family conflict or work-life balance and availability or usage of organisational policies developed to assist employees to manage their work-life interaction better. Method Academic literature published between 2000 and March 2018 was systematically searched using CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE. Results Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Results were mixed for studies addressing organisational policy uptake: some showed uptake improved work-life interaction but others showed no or even negative effects. Some studies revealed gender effects. Policy availability alone, however, does not appear to be related to improved work-life interaction. Conclusions Findings highlight the importance of ensuring organisational policies developed are nuanced and embedded within a supportive work-family culture that enables employees to utilise the policies to alter their work arrangements and the work-life interaction experienced.