Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

The workplace is necessarily evolving to accommodate the overlapping constraints of work and family; as such, this has implications for the productivity of the labor force as well as the welfare of the family as a whole. This study highlights the extent to which the provision of family-related benefits in the workplace (such as family leave, child care, and workplace flexibility) has changed since the turn of the century. In search of an in-depth understanding of how firms choose which benefits to provide for their employees, the study also investigates the characteristics of firms and workers that may help predict the types of benefits that are provided by firms. This study therefore provides an important look at the shifting landscape of family-related benefits as well as the factors that explain the current changes we observe in the American workplace. To explore this policy problem empirically, the authors utilize national-level data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2000 – 2014) as well as firm-level data from the National Study of Employers (2005 – 2014). Preliminary findings indicate varying trends for each type of benefit. Determinants and implications of these trends will be explored in detail.