The Changing Workforce: Comparison of Federal and Nonfederal Work/Family Programs and Approaches
GGD-92-84
Published: Apr 23, 1992. Publicly Released: Apr 23, 1992.
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Highlights
GAO: (1) provided information on the programs and policies selected nonfederal employers use to help their employees balance work and family responsibilities; and (2) compared federal and nonfederal efforts in this area.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Personnel Management | The Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) should ensure that OPM will play a stronger leadership role in dealing with federal sector work/family issues. Specifically, OPM should: (1) approach work/family-related programs strategically, emphasizing to federal agencies and managers their potential importance to workforce planning, recruitment, retention, and productivity enhancement; (2) review and if necessary, revise governmentwide work/family programs; and (3) help federal agencies as they review work/family programs under their control. |
Closed – Implemented
OPM established a Work and Family Program Center and formed an interagency partnership on work and family to strengthen the government's ability to address work and family issues and plan for the future. The Center's primary focus has been dependent care issues. It collected information on current federal work and family programs and serves as a clearinghouse for that information. OPM subsequently reviewed governmentwide work and family policies and determined that most agencies already had the flexibility to operate the programs they needed. OPM said that it was concentrating on educating agencies about the programs and how to use them. Since the President's July 1994 memorandum, which directs agencies to expand family friendly work arrangements, OPM and GSA are working with agencies to eliminate barriers to the President's directive.
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Topics
Child care programsComparative analysisElder careFlexible spending accountsFamiliesFederal employeesFlexible work schedulesFringe benefitsPart-time employmentPrivate sectorWorking conditions