About
The Boston College Center for Work & Family (òòò½Ö±²¥CWF) is the country’s leading university-based center focused on helping organizations enhance the employee experience, increase employee productivity, and improve the quality of employee lives. By bridging the worlds of academic research and corporate practice, the Center helps our partners find the most relevant, evidence-based information available in order to craft the best possible workforce management practices. Â
The Center works with our outstanding member organizations by focusing on four major areas: engaging & managing talent, creating globally inclusive workplace cultures, promoting and fostering employee well-being, and developing innovative work-life and flexibility systems through research, resources, events, and membership. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
The Boston College Workforce Roundtable supports many of the world’s leading employers by facilitating a learning and networking community. The Roundtable provides corporate partners with access to contemporary research and thought leadership on progressive human resource practices and workplace cultures. Roundtable partners are leaders across a broad range of sectors, including accounting and professional services, insurance, healthcare, technology, hospitality, energy, and higher education. All share a common desire to implement policies and strategies that increase productivity and develop employees both personally and professionally.
“In today's 24/7 global economy, it has become increasingly difficult for employees to balance their careers with their personal lives. At the same time organizations are challenged to meet the needs of their employees while improving products and services, responding to customer needs, meeting financial expectations and maintaining high business ethics. ”
Our History
2015: Center Celebrates 25th Anniversary (2015)
In conjunction with it’s 25th Anniversary Celebration, the Center releases its research report on how Millennials navigate their careers and recognizes four founding members (Bristol-MyersSquibb, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Marriott International) for support of the Center’s since its beginning.   Â
2009: Center Launches The New Dad Series
With support from corporate members, the Center launches The New Dad, an 8-year research project studying the changing role of fathers at home and in the workplace. The series makes the Center one of the most cited sources for information on working dads in the US. In all, more than 4000 fathers have participated in the Center’s fatherhood research.
2006: Center Launches the Global Roundtable
In response to the growing need for more resources on global workforce management issues, the Center launches the Global Roundtable in 2006. Meetings are held in the Brazil, China, the UK, and USA. The Roundtable also spawns the Global Executive Briefing Series.
2001: Dr. Brad Harrington Named Executive Director
Brad Harrington, former human resource and organization development executive at Hewlett-Packard, becomes the Center’s Executive Director and a research professor in the Carroll School.
1997: Center Moves to Boston College
The Center moves from the Boston University School of Social Work to the Carroll School of Management at Boston College.
 1997: Work-Family Research Network Established
With support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Director Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes launches the Work-Family Researchers Network (WFRN). Since 2010, has hosted the world’s largest conference of work-family researchers and scholars.
 1992: NEWFA Established
The Center establishes the New England Work & Family Association (NEWFA) to help regional employers understand and address the complex work-life challenges facing the workforce.
 1990: Work & Family Roundtable Established
The Center creates a corporate Roundtable, providing leadership to shape corporate and public responses to the demands of work, home and community in order to enhance employee effectiveness.
1990: Center Founded
Dr. Bradley Googins, Professor of Social Work at Boston University founds the Center for Work & Family in concert with 10 corporate founding members.
The Boston College Center for Work & Family is committed to safeguarding personal information in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Personal information provided by members or other participants in Center for Work & Family programs and activities is used for purposes of facilitating Center for Work & Family programming and services. The Center for Work & Family utilizes cookies and similar technologies to better understand the experiences of those who visit our websites. If you have questions about the handling of your information, please contact the Center for Work & Family at cwf@bc.edu.