The Issues of Work Life Balance for Saudi Women Workers

Women's greater entry into the work force is now a global phenomenon. Women's home responsibilities have a direct impact on their achievements at work. Career interruptions, plateauing, and turnover are costly and expensive both to women, organisations and families. This study focuses on work life balance experiences of Saudi women employees in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This study highlights the work-life considerations of Saudi women in the context of their cultural and religious values. Islam does not prohibit women from entering paid employment whenever there is a need for it, particularly in positions, that suit her feminine nature. However, the Saudi culture emphasizes the importance of family, and the first priority for women is to be a wife and a mother while paid work is a secondary issue.

Autorentext

My name is Wajdi Bahkali from Saudi Arabia. I have Master of Management Studies in Human Resource Management from the University of Waikato, in Hamilton, New Zealand, dated on 2010. Also I have Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management, from the same University, dated on 2009. I am an HR manager in Energy company in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Klappentext

Women's greater entry into the work force is now a global phenomenon. Women s home responsibilities have a direct impact on their achievements at work. Career interruptions, plateauing, and turnover are costly and expensive both to women, organisations and families. This study focuses on work life balance experiences of Saudi women employees in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This study highlights the work-life considerations of Saudi women in the context of their cultural and religious values. Islam does not prohibit women from entering paid employment whenever there is a need for it, particularly in positions, that suit her feminine nature. However, the Saudi culture emphasizes the importance of family, and the first priority for women is to be a wife and a mother while paid work is a secondary issue.