IMPACT OF CAREER ENABLERS AND FLEXIBLE WORKING METHODS ON WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY USING PATH MODEL INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT (IJM) IJM © I A E M E

Abstract

ABSTRACT Globalization, changing demographics and metamorphosis in the roles of men and women has forced business to transform the way they operate. Strategies dealing with work-life integration are an important implement in this transformation. Women in the workforce pursuing a career and obtaining remuneration for the same are thus part of a modern phenomenon. It is a well-established fact that women have been challenged by inequality in the workforce. O'Reilly and O'Neill (2006) speak about the various factors which impact the career of a woman across different stages in her life. The primary focus on Gender identity propels the thinking that women can stay true to their engendered identity and still be successful in their careers rather than change their behavior to follow male models of workplace norms. Flexibility at the workplace is a universal need for all -men, women, old and young. It is a gender-neutral initiative, the rationale for which is driven powerfully by the changing roles of men and women, of caregivers and of nurturers. However, in the case of women, it is a sustaining force, a panacea which ensures that the pitfalls and speed-breakers in a woman's career journey do not result in permanent damage, i.e, her dropping off from the workforce, never to return. The present paper is focused on identifying the women career growth enablers and thereby improving the longevity and work place participation of women in the country. Both secondary and primary data sources are used for the purpose of research. 26000 women attended the Hindu Opportunity Job fair for Women, of which 8000 showed interest in flexible careers. From this, every 6th sample was selected systematically. The final sample size, after data cleaning, based on this sampling was 1064. The output of path analysis indicate that the path coefficient for EE against FWB is -0.264 with p-value of 0.033 and the path coefficient for WLB against FWA is 0.204 with significant at one per cent level and the path co-efficient for EE against HBNF is 0.445 with significant at one per cent level