Balancing Home and Workplace: Challenges and Constraints Faced by Working Women in India

Abstract

The growing involvement of women in the Indian labor force has also led to the growth in the number of women and their involvement in the workforce has helped in the growth of the Indian economy, but still, there are socio-cultural and organizational factors that restrict the lives of women and their careers. Working women have a twofold burden of work-related and unequal domestic pressures, and these are exacerbated by gender discrimination, safety concerns, and insufficient organizational support, which result in poor work-life balance and worse job satisfaction. This study will help determine the main problems that working women have to deal with, explore how workplace and home factors affect the work-life balance, and discuss how organizational support can help improve work satisfaction levels. The survey was a quantitative cross-sectional survey done in urban India on 250 working women in education, healthcare, IT/BPO, and service sectors using a structured questionnaire and statistical evaluation. The results demonstrate that work-life balance is greatly impaired by work issues and domestic life, whereas organizational support has a beneficial impact on job satisfaction. The paper reveals the necessity of policy changes, work practices that are facilitative, and the change in attitude of society. Future studies can take a longitudinal and sector-specific perspective in an attempt to create inclusive and gender-sensitive workplaces.