Family-friendly backlash—Fact or fiction? The case of organizations' on-site child care centers

Authors

Teresa J. Rothausen
Jorge A. Gonzalez, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Lisa L. O'Dell
Nicole E. Clarke

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1998

Abstract

Employer offerings of on-site child care benefits have grown tremendously in the past few decades; both beneficial and detrimental effects on worker attitudes and behaviors have been noted. Some research suggests that offering on-site child care benefits can cause resentment among childless workers and/or workers with children who do not use the center. In a field sample of 271 employees (mean age 34.5 yrs), current and past use of the on-site child care center, as well as anticipated future use of the on-site child care center, were related to more positive proximal reactions such as attitudes closely related to the on-site child care center, but not to more general attitudes or behaviors. Results indicate that any "family-friendly backlash" may be limited to proximal reactions. These findings are discussed in light of organizational justice theories.

Comments

(c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved. Original published version available at https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.1998.tb00257.x

Recommended Citation

Rothausen, T. J., Gonzalez, J. A., Clarke, N. E., & O'Dell, L. L. (1998). Family-friendly backlash—Fact or fiction? The case of organizations' on-site child care centers. Personnel Psychology, 51(3), 685–706. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.1998.tb00257.x

Publication Title

Personnel Psychology

DOI

10.1111/j.1744-6570.1998.tb00257.x