Work-Life Toolkit for Managers: Learning Tools

                                                      

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Learn About the Strategic Business Practices of Work-Life 

It is important to understand the basics of all work-life programs and workplace flexibilities, as well as how they work together to help employees better manage family and work responsibilities. 

Virtual Courses

The Introduction to Leave, Work-Life, and Workplace Flexibilities virtual course is designed for managers and employees seeking to understand the vast resources and flexible workplace options available in the Federal government as well as how to access and apply those resources effectively.


The Executive Excellence and Wellness through Strategic Leadership virtual course is another great tool you can use to gain valuable knowledge, strategies, and resources on how to use strategic leadership skills in your work and personal life to achieve executive excellence and wellness.

In addition, fact sheets below discuss the value of different work-life programs for family & dependent care, employee assistance, worksite health & wellness, and telework.

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Fact Sheets and Policies



Supports for caregivers in the Federal workplace encompass a range of policies, benefits, and services that provide flexibility, financial support, direct services, and education and resources to support employees facing a range of care responsibilities for family members, friends, or relatives.

To learn more visit OPM's Family and Dependent Care webpage and consult with your agency Dependent Care Coordinator. 

Other Useful Resources:

Handbook on Workplace Flexibilities and Work-Life Programs for Elder Care

Handbook on Leave and Workplace Flexibilities for Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care

 

An EAP is a voluntary, confidential program that helps employees (including management) work through various life challenges that may adversely affect job performance, health, and personal well-being to optimize an organization's success. EAP services include assessments, counseling, and referrals for additional services to employees with personal and/or work-related concerns, such as stress, financial issues, legal issues, family problems, office conflicts, and alcohol and substance use disorders. EAPs also often work with management and supervisors providing advanced planning for situations, such as organizational changes, legal considerations, emergency planning, and response to unique traumatic events.

To learn more about EAPs, visit OPM's EAP webpage and consult with your agency EAP Administrator . 

A worksite health & wellness program is a set of programs, policies, and environmental supports designed to help employees meet their health and wellness needs. Elements of these programs include but are not limited to agency policies, educational materials and events, physical activity opportunities, lifestyle counseling, screenings, assessments, and immunizations.  

Facts & Business Case

To learn more about worksite health & wellness programs, visit OPM's Worksite Health & Wellness webpage  and consult with your agency Worksite Health & Wellness Coordinator.  

Telework is a work arrangement that allows an employee to perform work, during any part of regular, paid hours, at an approved alternative worksite (e.g., home, telework center). There are two types of telework:

• Routine telework occurs as part of a previously approved, ongoing, and regular schedule. 
• Situational telework is approved on a case-by-case basis, where the hours worked were not part of a previously approved, ongoing, and regular telework schedule. Situational telework is sometimes also referred to as episodic, intermittent, unscheduled, or ad-hoc telework.

To learn more about telework, visit Telework.gov and consult with your agency Telework Managing Officer and/or Coordinator.

Flexible Work Schedules

An agency may implement for its employees an alternative work schedule (AWS) instead of traditional fixed work schedules (e.g., 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week). Within rules established by the agency, AWS can enable employees to have work schedules that help the employee balance work and family or personal responsibilities.  Please refer to your agency’s work schedule policy and collective bargaining agreement (if applicable) before implementing new schedules.

Compressed Work Schedule: A work schedule that allows a full-time employee to complete an 80-hour pay period in less than 10 days 
Flexible Work Schedule: A work schedule that allows an employee to choose arrival and departure times while maintaining agency-determined core hours 
Maxiflex Schedule: A schedule that allows an employee a wide range of work times, for instance, a full-time employee is allowed to vary the number of hours worked during a workday (for example, working 8:00 AM to midnight) or the number of hours worked each week 
Job Sharing: An arrangement that allows two employees to coordinate schedules/assignments to share a work role 
Part-time Schedule: An arrangement that allows an employee to work less than full-time, but for a specific number of hours 
Phased Retirement: An arrangement that allows an employee to work less than full-time, but for a specific number of hours, while drawing retirement benefits 


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