"The policy exists but you can't really use it": Communication and the structuration of work-family policies

E. Kirby, K. Krone

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

340 Scopus citations

Abstract

Although work-family benefits are increasingly important organizational policies, limited research addresses the impact of communication on benefit utilization. However, communication is significant because the perceived appropriateness of work-family benefits emerges through interaction. For example, when coworkers complain about "picking up the slack" for those using family leave, their discourse may impact future decisions of other workers regarding whether they utilize the work-family benefits available to them. We apply Giddens' (1984) Structuration Theory to examine organizational members' discursive responses to conditions (and contradictions) present in utilizing work-family benefits in a governmental organization. We argue the daily discursive practices of individuals can either reinforce or undermine formally stated work-family initiatives, and in turn discuss the implications of this "structuration" of policy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)50-77
Number of pages28
JournalJournal of Applied Communication Research
Volume30
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002

Keywords

  • Coworker Communication
  • Structuration
  • Work-Family Communication
  • Work-Family Policies

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Communication
  • Language and Linguistics

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