Work-Life Balance among Married Women Working in Public Sector

Kalthum  Hassan; Norehan  Abdullah; Nursyakiran Akmal  Ismail

doi:10.32890/jgd2017.13.2.12

Authors

Kalthum Hassan Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia
Norehan Abdullah Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia
Nursyakiran Akmal Ismail Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32890/jgd2017.13.2.12

Keywords:

work-life balance, working women, public sector

Abstract

This study is to determine whether married women working in the public
sector are able to sustain work-life balance and to elicit their views and
suggestions on the support system needed to improve their work-life balance.
This study adopts a quantitative method. Surveys were used as the main tool
to gather data from seventy-six (76) women working in various public sectors
in Komplek Tun Abdul Razak (KOMTAR) Penang. The study discovers that in
general, married women working in public sectors are able to sustain worklife
balance. The main support is the spouses who often help the women with
their housework. However, most of the housework is done during weekends
because of the limited time during the working days. The respondents agree
that they are also able to spend good quality time with their families. The
support system suggested by the respondents to promote work-life balance
includes leave policies, flexible working hours, childcare centers and nursery
room facilities at workplaces. Services suggested are Employee Assistance
Program (EAP), counseling services and series of trainings for public sector
employees in providing skills and knowledge to improve work-life balance.

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