PHWP: Abstract Detail: Social sustainability, flexible work arrangements, and diverse women

This review examines flexible work arrangements (FWAs) as a source of social sustainability. The authors discuss the differential impact of FWAs across different groups of women. They highlight the potential for FWAs to reduce work-life conflict across many different groups; however, they note the current emphasis on professional Caucasian women in the United States. More information is needed on FWAs targeting other demographic groups including racial/ethnic minorities and lower socioeconomic levels. The authors suggest that managers should make more explicit efforts to direct these initiatives at the entire organization and provide several principles for the management of these initiatives including the following: (1) making flexibility an organizational norm; (2) better understanding employees’ lives outside of work; and (3) creating metrics of social sustainability.

Blake-Beard, S., O’Neill, R., Ingols, C., & Shapiro, M. (2010). Social sustainability, flexible work arrangements, and diverse women. Gender in Management, 25, 408.