University of Rhode Island

Work-Life at URI:
401-874-5289
work-life@etal.uri.edu

Tell Me More About Work-Life

The Work-Life Movement

It is increasingly clear that the 21st century workplace requires adjustments in how, when, and where we perform work. Companies and institutions across the nation now know it is in their best interest to implement policies and practices that allow increasingly stretched and stressed employees some flexibility and support in balancing their lives on and off the job. Read more . . .

Trends in Academia

Colleges and universities are catching up to the corporate sector in dealing with the changing demographics of their employees and students. Solving the work-life needs in academia can be more complicated due to the variety of categories into which employees fall. The College and University Work-Family Association has been a leader in providing work-life information and guidance specifically to the higher education community. Read more . . .

Benefits of Providing Work-Life Balance Options

The burgeoning field of work-life research has produced clear and compelling evidence that providing work-life balance options and supports to workers will reap myriad benefits that are bi-directional. These include: increased job satisfaction, productivity, retention, commitment, physical and mental health, and decreased stress, attrition, and absenteeism. Read more . . .

Barriers to Flexibility

There are several perceived drawbacks to providing flexible work options, all of which can be countered. These include cost, fear of abuse of policies, loss of productivity and absenteeism, difficulty in supervising employees, and others. Partly because of these perceived drawbacks, perhaps the most important barrier is manager resistance and lack of supervisory support. Read more . . .