The proper operation of the Human Resources Management Department and a well-developed organizational culture are the basic factors of the success of any organization (Kopelman et al., 2006). Military forces as the specific organization of vital importance for every country should pay close attention to their organizational culture. Work-life practices constitute the foundation of organizational commitment and service dedication, so the effectiveness of the currently applied work-life policies in the US Army is of great importance, and this is the topic of the present paper.
To begin with, it is necessary to have a clear picture of today’s situation in the world and possible tasks that US Military forces might get. “Given the especially difficult circumstances surrounding military obligations for U.S. soldiers – for example, an increased threat of deployment due to the current wartime context – a better understanding of how family-friendly perceptions can benefit soldiers is increasingly important.” (PR Newswire, 2008) In other words, US military authorities should deal with the work-life policies they provide regarding the context of the day and situation.
Nowadays, the basic work-life practices and policies offered by the US Army include “on-site educational classes” for soldiers and special support groups for their families, possibilities to be employed in military institutions like Medical Corps allowing the perfect work-life balance, annual 30-day paid vacation, and beneficial retirement perspectives (Corps Benefits, 2009). The major essence of all these steps and policies is the ensuring of the perfect relation of time spent by the soldiers at services and in families (Lewison, 2006). It is self-evident that a family-friendly environment and supporting atmosphere provide for the success of any organization, and US Army is on the way to its modification and further development.
However, if the aspect of the effectiveness of the above-mentioned work-life policies is taken into consideration, the situation does not seem to be perfect. The major factors supporting this assumption are the failure in the Iraq war and numerous protest demonstrations against the latter in the United States. As far as work-life policies are concerned, both sides, i. e. organization, and family, should be satisfied with them (US Army, 2009). Despite this fact, the situation in the US Army seems far from ideal. The failure in the war can be explained by the lack of a friendly and supporting environment within the army and lack of commitment among soldiers. At the same time, domestic protest actions are the results of the failure in the family-directed work-life policies.
Thus, the present rate of work-life policy effectiveness within the US Army can be viewed a rather low. However, the recent changes in the political life of the country including the election of the new President and the change of further foreign and domestic policies of the United States leave the hope that the US Army organizational culture will see positive changes soon.
So, to conclude, it is necessary to state that US Army implements considerable work-life policies as means of improving its organizational culture. However, today these policies are not effective enough to provide for the successful operation of such an organization. The possible ways out of the situation might be the improvements in the interpersonal communication skills, creating a friendlier atmosphere in the organization, and hope for the possible reforms carried out by the new Government of the country.
Works Cited
- Corps Benefits. “It starts with a commitment to patient care”. Medical Corps. 2009. Goarmy.com.
- Kopelman, Richard E., David J. Prottas, Cynthia A. Thompson, and Eileen White Jahn. “A Multilevel Examination of Work-Life Practices: Is More Always Better?.” Journal of Managerial Issues 18.2 (2006): 232+.
- Lewison, John. “The Work/life Balance Sheet So Far: Bottom Line Create a Good Program and Communicate Its Importance to Your Managers.” Journal of Accountancy 202.2 (2006): 45+.
- PR Newswire. “Ways to Improve Soldiers’ Work-Life Relationship”. PR Newswire. 2008. Military.com.
- US Army. “If you are looking for a good work-life balance and great job satisfaction, then US Army is the place to be.” US Army Reviews. 2009. Glassdoor.com. 2009