WOMEN AT WORKPLACE AND WORK-LIFE BALANCE

Figure 1-Source (Alamy Limited, 2023)

Women in employment are important to society and play a vital part in human development. In the past, men dominated society and supplied all the resources needed for the family, leaving women to handle domestic duties including childcare, housekeeping, and childcare. Nonetheless, women have entered a variety of fields to establish strong careers on par with males as a result of increased education and financial gains. The pressures of both the job and personal spheres are competing for working women today. They struggle to balance the demands of the workplace with their family and home responsibilities(Shanker, 2019).

The Way Organizations Assist Women in Finding a Better Work-Life Balance between their Personal and Professional Lives

 

Offer possibilities for integrating work and life

To encourage work-life balance and wellbeing, these can include an exercise area, a children's room at work, a sick room, a meditation/prayer area, an office garden, and team-wide self-care programs. Additionally, wholesome food options can be provided in the cafeteria(Sinha, 2022).

 

Genuine flexibility in hybrid work

Although hybrid working has become the new normal, the need to be visible at all times and demonstrate one's commitment to one's work has had a negative impact, particularly on women. Women often fall out of sight and subsequently out of mind as they balance parenting and household duties, which prevents them from participating in decision-making and slows down growth. True flexibility in hybrid work requires teamwork, honesty, trust, and an inclusive attitude. Leaders establish the culture, which permeates the workforce. Both male and female leaders must consistently exhibit these ideals(Sinha, 2022).

 

Review workloads regularly

For those who are unable to effectively express themselves, workloads tend to increase over time and more quickly. To establish hygiene around workloads, managers can review workloads, establish appropriate thresholds, and welcome frequent input(Sinha, 2022).

 

Mental well-being

A major determinant of retention and joining decisions is now attention to mental health. Women are prioritizing their mental health because they are highly aware of their condition and want to change it. Offering advice when required is only one aspect of providing mental health care. In essence, it entails eradicating the stigma associated with mental health through awareness-raising and dialogue, as well as taking proactive measures to prevent mental health issues through routine emotional health examinations, resilience-building, and the development of healthy coping mechanisms(Sinha, 2022).

Reality Check for the Working Women of Bangladesh

Women frequently manage several obligations at work and at home; thus, work-life balance is essential to their well-being and professional advancement. In Bangladesh, female employees had a harder time balancing work and personal obligations than male employees. This evidence is provided by the research on women who work in various industries. There were 40 female employees from various firms has contributed. According to the research, discrimination and bias at work, long work hours, job rigidity, work overload, childcare responsibilities, a dominant managerial style, a lack of supervisory support, and limited family support are the main causes of female employees' difficulties maintaining a work-life balance(Tasnim, Hossain and Enam, 2017).

Conclusion

Women's career advancement and well-being are greatly impacted by work-life balance, particularly as they frequently balance several obligations at home and at work. A supportive workplace with flexible rules enables women to succeed both emotionally and professionally, whereas a lack of balance can result in stress, burnout, and career failures. Employers who support gender-inclusive practices, such parental leave, remote work, and equitable opportunities for professional progression, experience an increase in employee retention and job satisfaction. A more equal and effective workforce result from women being able to succeed in their jobs without sacrificing their personal and family obligations through work-life balance.

Reference list

Alamy Limited (2023). Work Life Balance Vector Illustration of Person Balancing with Job and Family or Leisure Activities in Multitasking Flat Cartoon Hand Drawn Templates. [online] Alamy.com. Available at: https://www.alamy.com/work-life-balance-vector-illustration-of-person-balancing-with-job-and-family-or-leisure-activities-in-multitasking-flat-cartoon-hand-drawn-templates-image558042132.html [Accessed 3 Apr. 2025].

Shanker, M. (2019). Women at workplace and Work life balance. [online] INTERNATIONAL PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION AND HUMANITIES RESEARCHES ER  - . Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351068790_Women_at_workplace_and_Work_life_balance [Accessed 2 Apr. 2025].

Tasnim, M., Hossain, M.Z. and Enam, F. (2017). Work-Life Balance: Reality Check for the Working Women of Bangladesh. Journal of Human Resource and Sustainability Studies, 05(01), pp.75–86. doi:https://doi.org/10.4236/jhrss.2017.51008[Accessed 2 Apr. 2025].

 

 

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