Perceived Impact of Job Flexibility on Work-Family Balance in the Financial Service Sector of Bangladesh: A Step towards Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Abstract

Women’s participation in paid labor has given rise to work-family concerns. Particularly, the banking industry is well known for its long-hour culture in addition to its managerial full-time jobs in Bangladesh. Moreover, the patriarchal society of the country anticipates women as the primary care provider in families, thus adding to their struggle with work-family conflict. Through in-depth interviews with ten women who had already quit from their managerial jobs in banks facing such conflict along with ten women, who are still struggling to manage work and family, we identified their perception of how the availability of flexibility in jobs may help achieve work-family balance. Findings of this study revealed that currently, in the absence of any formal flexible arrangements except in a few foreign banks, informal arrangements at the discretion of line managers are supporting these women. Specific suggestions came on the possible job areas in banks where flexibility can be adopted to eventually retain the women in top managerial position (SDG 5) that will help attain several other SDGs including gender inclusion (SDG 5 & 16), employee well-being (SDG 3), sociocultural development (SDG 10 & 11), women empowerment (SDG 5), and ultimately a sustainable banking sector (SDG 17).