A report commissioned by the Independent Women’s Forum suggests that federal hiring managers would do well to emphasize the government’s flexible workplace policies, leave policies and insurance benefits to job candidates, especially when the base salary they can offer would not match what other employers would pay.
The study, examining the preferences of women in the workplace, said that while salary is understandably highly valued, “offering a combination of flexible schedules, telecommuting, and reduced hours is about equivalent to offering 10 paid vacation and sick days or between $5,000 to $10,000 in extra salary.”
Mothers with young children value workplace flexibility and paid sick and vacation days much more than non-mothers, it said, while women without young children value salary and raises far more than do mothers.
The availability of health insurance coverage—which the government does offer, along with many but not all other employers—also is a major boost in the attractiveness of a job, while paid family and medical leave—which the government does not offer but some other employers do and use as a selling point—”is a relatively small concern.”
