The Backlash Against Work/Family Benefits: Evidence from New Zealand

Abstract

This study examines the phenomenon of work/family backlash by comparing attitudes between employees who have used and those who have not used an organization’s work/family benefits. Exploring this phenomenon is important because organizations do not want to offer benefits that create negative reactions in those excluded from using them or those choosing not to use them. Findings indicate no significant differences in attitudes between users and nonusers toward turnover intention, affective, continuance and normative commitment, recruitment and retention benefits, work/family fairness and attitudes toward male and female users of work/family benefits. Nonusers were more likely to be younger and without children, indicating they might have little use for work/family benefits. The findings suggest work/family backlash might be more a case of media hype and provide support for a needs-based allocation perspective being used by nonusers of work/family benefits.