How Work-Family Research Can Finally Have an Impact in Organizations

Area of Science:

• Organizational Psychology
• Work-Life Studies
• Human Resources Management

Background:

• Extensive work-family research has been conducted over decades.
• A significant gap exists between research findings and practical implementation in organizations.
• This implementation gap limits the impact of research on improving employee well-being and work-life balance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify prevalent implementation gaps between work-family research and practice.
• To emphasize the importance of reducing these gaps for practical impact.
• To advocate for improved and diversified research approaches in the work-family field.

Main Methods:

• The study is primarily a conceptual and review-based article.
• It synthesizes existing knowledge on work-family research and implementation challenges.
• Recommendations are proposed based on identified gaps and future research directions.

Main Results:

• Key areas where implementation gaps are prevalent are identified.
• The necessity of bridging the research-practice divide is highlighted.
• Specific, actionable recommendations for future research are presented.

Conclusions:

• Work-family research must evolve to address implementation challenges.
• Future research should focus on organizational partnerships, technological impacts, individual self-management, and policy advocacy.
• Increased interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly with industrial-organizational psychology practitioners, is crucial for advancing the field.