Towards an understanding of the relationship between family-oriented benefits and employee behaviors: Does coworker support matter?

Drawing on social exchange theory, we explore the reciprocal relationship between the perception of being offered family-oriented benefits (childcare information services and childcare vouchers) and parent-employees' engagement in organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs). We examine the moderating role of both general and family-oriented social support from coworkers, an often cited, but less frequently studied aspect of parent-employees' work experiences. Based on survey data from parent-employees and their supervisors in the United States, we find that the strength of the relationship between the benefits and OCBs varies when coworker support is high versus low and that the direction of the relationship varies according to the type of coworker support. Specifically, when childcare vouchers are offered, OCBs are related to general support, whereas when childcare information is offered, OCBs are related to family-oriented support.