| The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitlements on the financial stability of selected restaurant businesses, as perceived by managers. This quantitative study was guided by Emmenegger's insider/outsider theory of employment and unemployment, which attributes workforce changes to shifts in gender role expectations. The goal of this study was to provide information to restaurant managers in the southern region of Texas on the differences between hiring male and female employees. Drawing from a population of restaurant managers for 300 fast food and family-restaurant businesses in Texas, this empirical investigation used a simple random-sampling procedure, allowing each member of the population an equal and independent chance of being selected for the study. A modified version of the Society for Human Resource Management Family Medical Leave Survey was used to collect the data. The 1-way ANOVA was used to examine the differences in the mean perception score of the restaurant managers. Among the conclusions of the study was that: (1) there is a significant difference between the attitudes of restaurant managers regarding the effect of the FMLA entitlements for employees to the financial stability of their business, (2) the restaurant managers showed differences of hiring male or female employees in the workforce, and (3) restaurant managers are aware of the terms of FMLA entitlements. This study contributes to positive social change by helping organizations improve their awareness of FMLA, fairly appraise male and female employees, and provide knowledge of fair hiring practices in the communities where they are located. |
