As part of National Work & Family Month, OPM has sent agencies a memo highlighting programs available for them to use to improve employees’ work-life balance, noting that providing a more flexible work environment was a goal set in a June 2014 Presidential memo.
It pointed to two handbooks issued earlier this year containing guidance for childbirth, adoption, foster care and for elder care containing information on work scheduling flexibilities and on leave policies, including advanced sick and annual leave.
Employee assistance programs offer services including assessments, counseling and referrals to additional services for those with personal and work-related concerns including family problems, office conflicts and legal or financial issues, it said, and”can also help management and supervisors plan in advance for organizational changes, emergencies, and response to unique traumatic events.”
OPM also noted that the telework.gov site has been recently updated and features resources including how to build a business case for telework; its uses for emergency planning; considerations for training, performance evaluation and self-assessments; safety checklists and other information.
Also, additional information and training will be made available to agency work-life coordinators on topics including pregnancy discrimination, working from home or an alternative worksite as a reasonable accommodation, nutrition promotion in agencies and elder care.
