Balancing the Scales: an Investigation of Work-Life Balance Among Women in a South African Information and Communications Telecommunications Organization

Abstract

Purpose – The study’s purpose was to determine the extent to which female information and communications technology professionals are aware of work-life balance policies. Aim - The objective was to assess employee understanding of work-life poli-cies in effect at their place of employment. Methodology – To analyze female employees’ experiences with work-life balance and their awareness of work-life balance policies in their organiza-tion, data from female information and communications technology profes-sionals (n=50) were collected using a quantitative technique and cross-sectional survey design. The study used inferential statistics like Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Pearson’s product-moment correlation, and T-tests as well as descriptive statistics like Measure of Central Tendency and Dispersion to analyze the data. Findings - According to the study, the majority of employees were aware that their organization had a separate work-life balance policy. Limitations of the study – Only one organization was used to test the idea of work-life balance. There were just 50 available responses, making the sample size for the questionnaire small. Practical implications – The study calls for a re-examination of work-life bal-ance policies and practices, specifically Border Theory, in order to ensure that work-life balance can enhance productivity without inadvertently resulting in poor work-life balance. To better comprehend the management of the compa-ny, the personnel should take the time to enquire about the policies and other procedures that interest them. To inform the staff of the organization’s rules and various regulations, management must also communicate with and edu-cate them. Originality/value – Further research is needed to fully explore the topic of work-life balance in information and communications technology. Such em-pirical studies have never been conducted in the South African environment. As a result, it can be said that there is a considerable level of originality in this paper. By helping lawmakers understand how women perceive work-life balance practices, the current research has the potential to help create better job design policies.