OPM meanwhile has put out government-wide data, based on this year’s Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, showing mixed use of formal programs designed to encourage work-life balance.
The most commonly used program is alternative work schedules such as flexible or compressed working schedules, in which 38 percent participate; another 20 said it is not available to them and the rest said they choose not to participate.
Similarly, the data show that government-wide, 31 percent of employees telework, but of those 11 percentage points do so only very infrequently or on an unscheduled or short-term basis, and another 4 no more than one or two days a month. Among non-teleworkers, 12 percentage points choose not to telework even though they are eligible, but 20 percent believe they have the kind of job where they could telework but have not been approved for it. The rest have to be physically present on the job or have technical issues that prevent telework.
Among other work-life programs, 33 percent participate in health and wellness programs, 11 percent in employee assistance programs, 5 percent in child care programs and 3 percent on elder care programs. In each case such programs are available to the large majority of the rest.
