Federal Work/Life Programs: Agencies Generally Satisfied with OPM Assistance, but More Tracking and Information Sharing Needed

OPM agrees that collecting and sharing information collected from federal agencies on the operations of their work/life programs would be beneficial. OPM routinely uses work/life coordinator meetings, Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCO) training academy, and similar venues to highlight promising practices from both the private and public sectors. However,OPM recognizes the limitations of disseminating this information primarily to presenters and participants at these events. In response to our recommendation, OPM now requires agencies to develop action plans based on data collected from the annual Employee Viewpoint Survey. In addition, on July 18, 2012, OPM created an online Federal Work-Life Community of Practice allowing federal agencies to share information on the various work-life programs such as dependent care. It also features: a discussion forum, library of resources and research articles, events calendar, and OPM announcements and memoranda related to work/life programs. It is accessible to all federal agencies via the OMB MAX web site. These combined efforts by OPM will address and implement this recommendation.

OPM officials agree that federal agencies benefit from using public and private sector best practices to develop and implement its work/life programs. However, OPM officials contend that motivation and culture differ enough between the private and public sectors so that a direct comparison may not always result in a comprehensive set of ready-to-use solutions. OPM agrees that federal agencies benefit from examining a variety of perspectives on work/life issues and programs. These include OPM's long-standing association with organizations such as World at Work, National Business Group on Health, Telework Exchange, Families and Work Institute, the Sloan Center on Aging and Work at Boston College, and others. Many of these organizations offer research data on a variety of work/life programs; survey and study results, draft white papers; articles; and other information. While not always specifically applicable to the federal work environment, this information provides general trends in work/life that could be useful to federal work/life representatives in developing their programs. OPM works with these organizations and identifies useful data from the private sector, while exercising caution to avoid the appearance of endorsing specific leading practices from any given organization. In response to our recommendation on July 18, 2012, OPM notified federal agencies of the availability of the Federal Work-Life Community of Practice, which is an online venue for agencies to share information on various work-life programs such as dependent care. This online venue addresses our recommendation by including a discussion forum and a library of resources and research articles which includes information about private sector practices that may be applicable to the federal agencies. These combined efforts by OPM will address and implement this recommendation.

OPM's Office of Work/Life/Wellness works with Federal Executive Boards and the CHCO Council to provide federal agencies with more information from both the public and private sectors about the development and implementation of work/life programs. Additionally, on July 18, 2012, OPM notified federal agencies of the creation of its online Federal Work-Life Community of Practice. Specifically, this website provides agencies information on a regular and timely basis on how to implement work/life programs, foster leadership support, and promote collaboration among the agencies. These combined efforts by OPM will address and implement this recommendation.