Understanding the (lack of) utilization of work-family practices: a multilevel perspective

Yin Lee, Amit Kramer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: Many employees do not use work-family practices to their full extent, even when they are in need of them. Drawing on the concept of psychological safety the authors propose a new construct: psychological accessibility– employees' sense of embracing the benefits of work-family practices without experiencing a fear of using them. The authors argue that the psychological accessibility of work-family practices could explain the variations in the utilization of work-family practices among employees with similar levels of family needs. Furthermore, the authors propose multilevel contextual factors that could affect the psychological accessibility of work-family practices. Design/methodology/approach: The authors develop a theoretical multilevel framework for work-family practices that places psychological accessibility at its core and addresses accessibility of work-family practices from a macro level that includes institutions and the different attributes of the national culture, a meso level that includes work time norms in organizations, and a micro level, that includes the social context at the team level in organizations. Findings: As part of the conceptual development the authors offer 10 propositions. Originality/value: The authors' multilevel model of psychological accessibility could explain the variations in the utilization of work-family practices across different national, organizational and group contexts. This paper refocuses scholarly attention to the psychological antecedents of the utilization of work-family practices. The authors offer some practical recommendations to make the utilization of work-family practices a psychologically safe activity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalCross Cultural and Strategic Management
Early online dateJun 8 2022
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 20 2022

Keywords

  • Cross-cultural
  • HR practices
  • Theory
  • Work and family

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Business and International Management
  • Cultural Studies
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Strategy and Management
  • Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management

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