Evaluation of a Reduced Work Schedule and Housing Authority Employee Wellbeing.

BACKGROUND: Public housing employees work in challenging conditions with many stressors. A Colorado housing authority requested an evaluation of its voluntary reduced work schedule pilot program and its association with employee wellbeing. Previous research has shown promising short-term improvements in employee productivity and morale from reduced schedule programs, but researchers have questioned whether impacts on wellbeing could be sustained. The study aimed to evaluate if program participants and non-participants reported differences in wellbeing measures over 18 months post-implementation.

METHODS: A longitudinal survey based on the NIOSH WellBQ over three timepoints and a series of four focus groups were conducted with program participants and non-participants. Linear mixed modeling was used to test for differences between participant and non-participant wellbeing outcomes over time. Deductive thematic analysis was used to analyze focus group data.

RESULTS: Program participants reported significantly lower work overload than non-participants; differences in work stress and work-to-non-work conflict were smaller and did not reach statistical significance. There was no evidence that the magnitude of these differences changed across timepoints, although limited statistical power constrains interpretation of this finding. Qualitative findings demonstrated that participants perceived benefits for work-life integration and decreased work stress and work overload, which participants attributed to the program.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that reduced work schedules may be associated with differences in employee wellbeing over the study period, particularly reduced work overload.