Developing and implementing work and family policies: The implications for human resource policies

This paper examines the processes involved in the development and implementation of work and family policies in five organizations. It identifies the types of work and family policies and describes the formal and informal processes involved in the development and implementation of some of the major initiatives. The critical steps associated with these processes and the critical factors, such as senior management szcpport, allocation of resources and effective communication, are identified. The article also highlights the implications of these factors for human resource policies. It indicates that where there is a strong desire to build a culture in which work and family balance is supported, human resource policies such as recruitment policies, selection criteria, performance appraisal criteria and processes and discipline arrangements can be used to support the building of such a culture.