WORK- LIFE BALANCE AND WORK- LIFE CONFLICT ON CAREER ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN PROFESSIONALS IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY SECTOR, BENGALURU, INDIA

Abstract

The dynamics of socio-economic, personal and career advancement aspects were analysed from 75 information and communication technology (ICT) women professionals, from 7 various ICT organisations from Bengaluru, India. ICT industry continues to be the largest private sector employer in India for women in that 800,000 women currently working in this sector account for over 30 per cent of the existing hires and this figure is all set to rise in the future. The characteristics of the ICT industry in India and the nature of the work pose some unique challenges for women professionals in the industry. This study focuses on how does work and family related factors influence the work life balance and work conflict of women professionals. It is very evident that career oriented women has to manage / balance work & life due to stereotypic roles played. ICT women professionals have agreed that their career advancement is influenced by work or personal life enhancement. ICT Women Professionals have said that they have been affected by gender through various reasons on work interferences with personal life & career advancement. It is evident that there is a concern among women professionals working in shifts and it does bring in work on family conflict & family on work conflict.There is a very high significant relationship between Work Life Balance (WLB) and Work Life Conflict (WLC). Even when there is a support from the family, the individual undergoes conflict on not managing both sides effectively.WLB & WLC is a significant factor leading to overall performance of the ICT Women Professionals.They should possess strong work role salience since work helps define the career-cantered professional’s self- concept, which should further intensify the potential incompatibility between the work and life domains.