Effects of Work-Life Balance Policies on Female Commitment towards the Same Company

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between work-life balance (WLB) policies and three indicators—job tenure, turnover rates, and new graduate retention rates in Japan—focusing on the careers of female employees. Cross-sectional analysis shows that firms with WLB policies, such as a full amount of maternity pay, are positively associated with female employee job tenure. Additionally, panel data analysis shows that the practices of family-care leave, family-care benefits, and flextime system, have an effect on the turnover rate of female employees. Moreover, the full amount of maternity pay has an effect on the retention rate of female new graduates. Finally, a first-differences analysis also finds a positive relationship between the maternity pay system and female job tenure. These results suggest that WLB policies, such as the full amount of maternity pay, family-care leave, family-care benefits, and flextime system, could produce positive outcomes for the careers of female employees.