Return on Investment of a Work-Family Intervention: Evidence From the Work, Family, and Health Network

J Occup Environ Med. 2015 Sep;57(9):943-51. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000520.

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the return on investment (ROI) of a workplace initiative to reduce work-family conflict in a group-randomized 18-month field experiment in an information technology firm in the United States.

Methods: Intervention resources were micro-costed; benefits included medical costs, productivity (presenteeism), and turnover. Regression models were used to estimate the ROI, and cluster-robust bootstrap was used to calculate its confidence interval.

Results: For each participant, model-adjusted costs of the intervention were $690 and company savings were $1850 (2011 prices). The ROI was 1.68 (95% confidence interval, -8.85 to 9.47) and was robust in sensitivity analyses.

Conclusion: The positive ROI indicates that employers' investment in an intervention to reduce work-family conflict can enhance their business. Although this was the first study to present a confidence interval for the ROI, results are comparable with the literature.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis / methods*
  • Family*
  • Female
  • Health Promotion / economics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Health / economics*
  • Work Schedule Tolerance*