This research highlights how family-supportive supervisor behaviors—like flexibility, empathy, and role modeling—enhance employee well-being, motivation, and retention while strengthening organizational culture and long-term workplace success.
The article Family Supportive Supervisor Behaviors: Employees Insights by Dr. Maureen Andrade and Wu-Ting Chenexplores the increasing challenges of maintaining work-life balance in today’s world. Centered on Family Supportive Supervisor Behaviors (FSSBs), the study investigates how employees experience managerial support through emotional encouragement, role modeling, flexibility, and creative workplace strategies. The research emphasizes the importance of cultivating a supportive and adaptable workplace culture that promotes employee well-being and meets evolving needs.
Managers play a vital role in promoting work-life balance through flexible scheduling, emotional support, modeling healthy behaviors, and employing creative strategies. These practices not only enhance employee satisfaction and reduce burnout but also strengthen organizational culture and productivity. Long-term success requires adaptive leadership, formal supportive policies, and a sustained organizational commitment to employee wellbeing.
Flexibility, emotional support, and creative strategies from managers are essential in fostering employee work-life balance, engagement, and overall well-being.
Managers who offer adaptable scheduling and consider employees’ personal situations promote a culture of respect, trust, and inclusion, ultimately enhancing job satisfaction and performance.
Empathy, active listening, and follow-up care by supervisors help employees feel valued and secure, enabling open communication and reducing stress.
Managers who model healthy boundaries—such as defined work hours or taking breaks—encourage employees to do the same, normalizing well-being as a priority in workplace culture.
Innovative approaches, like rotating remote work and team-based scheduling, show adaptability and improve morale across diverse employee demographics.
Strong manager-employee relationships built on empathy, availability, and authentic communication lead to greater employee motivation, performance, and loyalty.
Treating employees as whole individuals and providing tailored accommodation helps
build a cohesive, human-centered workplace grounded in connection and trust.
Full Article
Andrade, M. S., & Chen, W. T. (2025). Family supportive supervisor behaviors: Employee insights. American Journal of Management, 25(2), 7–21. https://doi.org/10.33423/ajm.v25i2
