Work life-balance

Dr. Kanwal Kaisser

WORK-LIFE BALANCE AND RELATIONSHIPS

SOME STATISTICS

STATISTICS

4 out of 10 employees state that their jobs are "very" or "extremely" stressful

Those in high stress jobs are 3 times more likely to suffer from medical conditions.

STATISTICS – CONTD.

Women, in particular, report stress related to conflict between work and family. (National Life Insurance company)

75 – 90 % of physician visits are related to stress and, according to the American Institute of Stress.

WOMAN’S CHANGING ROLE IN THE WORK FORCE

WOMAN’S CHANGING ROLE

In years past, a woman’s decision to work outside her home was usually based on three factors:

Marital status,

Contributions from other family members (husband’s salary),

Children

A married woman with children nearly always worked only at home.

CURRENT SCENE

Women enjoy the sense of competence

Contribute financially to their families

Men face less stress when not pressured to be the family’s sole provider

CURRENT SCENE (CONTD.)

In 1960, 1/3rd women with children were employed outside the home.

In 2003, 60.7 % of mothers in two-parent families were employed.

4 out of 5 Americans say it’s fine for a married woman to work even though her husband makes enough money to support the family.

CHANGING OCCUPATIONS

Women’s occupations are also changing as they move into careers previously dominated by males

Fill approximately 1/3rd of management positions

However, remain in jobs with little authority and low pay.

RESULT :MORE COMPLEX FAMILY LIFE

Challenge of balancing responsibilities in both the family and work areas

The ones who feel they aren’t very successful in balancing family and work is highest between the ages of 30 to 39.

SUPERWOMAN’S LEGACY

Marian Thomas writes:

"The good news is superwoman is dead. The bad news is she left behind an entire generation of women who are still struggling to figure out how to balance home and work.”

COMMON CONCERNS….

“How can I work and have time with my partner or for myself and be available for the kids and get the shopping done and find time to mop the kitchen floor, not to mention relationships, Masjid, kids games?”

Approximately 95 percent of adults in a national survey reported they are concerned work takes too much time away from their families.

FAMILY AND WORK SETTINGS HAVE A BUILT-IN POTENTIAL FOR CONFLICT.

You may feel overwhelmed with the demands at work and at home.

You may feel little energy or time to do all the things you are required to do

You may feel you have no time for yourself.

CONFLICTS IN WORK-FAMILY BALANCE

Time conflicts

Conflict due to tension between roles

Behavioral conflicts

ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

Economic context

Globalization of markets

Market competition

Mass entry of women into labour market

Tertiarization of the economy

Demographic context

Aging population

Low birth rate

“Sandwich generation”

WORK AND SOCIAL CONTEXT

Work context

Increased use of technology Increase in atypical jobs and

work schedulesFew measures to facilitate work- family reconciliationWork intensification

Social context

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK OF ANALYSIS

Work-family balance

Time conflicts

Conflict due to tension between roles

Behavioural conflicts

IMPACT ON FAMILY, WORK & HEALTH

Impact on family

Decreased socialization Deterioration of lifestyle practices (food, exercise, etc.)

Adaptation problems

Reduced marital satisfactionReduced ability to transmit values, culture

Impact on work

Reduced work satisfaction

Absenteeism

Employee turnover

Demotivation

Impact on health

Stress, burnout, fatigue, tension and depression

Migraines,

Cardiovascular diseases

ObesityIncreased health care costs Increase in number of single parentsDiversification of families

Dual-earner families

Social isolation

FAMILY AND WORK ENVIRONMENTS INFLUENCE EACH OTHER.

Positive and negative feelings go with you to work and to home.

BALANCE BETWEEN WORK AND FAMILY SETTINGS WILL MINIMIZE STRESS.

Reach Family Goals

Plan Family Activities

REALISTICALLY EVALUATE YOUR EMPLOYMENT DECISION

Do you need to work full-time?

Will you receive health care,

retirement, and vacation benefits?

Calculate how much the

decision to work will cost in time for family, child- care, clothing

and dry cleaning, and

household chores.

ORGANIZE FAMILY ACTIVITIES

Set priorities for the

family.

Be Realist

ic

Plan Ahead for the Next Day

ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE ON WORKING WOMEN

Allah Almighty says (what means):

ل ي�ة اه ج� ال�ج� ن� ت�ب�ر� ج� ن� ف ي ب"ي"وت ك"ن� و�ال� ت�ب�ر� ر� و�ق�"ول�ى* األ�

“And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as

[was] the display of the

former times of ignorance…”

[Quran 33: 33] 

MUSLIM WOMEN IN HISTORY

Scholars and

Muhaddithat

Worshippers

Orators and Preachers

Warriors BenefactorsWomen of General

Excellence

Poetesses and Women

of Eloquence

Many Women of Political Acumen

KHADIJAH (RA): THE ARCHETYPE

Family and Character

Wealth and Status

The First of the Believers

Esteemed Counselor

WARRIOR WOMEN

Took part in battles by carrying water, nursing wounded, some also fought!

Safiyya bint Abdul Muttalib, saw aunt killed a spy with a tent pole

Khaibar & Umayyah bint Qais & the women of Banu Ghifaar

The Yarmuk contingent

Azdah bint al Harith: Heroine of Battle of Maisaan - banners made out of headscarves to reinforce the army!

NUSAIBAH BINT KA’B AL-

ANSARIYAH

Al-’Aqabah

The Battle of Uhud

The Prophet’s (saw)Praise - ‘I did not turn right or left in the Battle of Uhud but that I saw her fighting near me.’

Her Wounds

Later Events: Ridwaan & Yamaamah

WOMEN OF POWER

The number of women who were politically prominent are well over a hundred: Umayyads, Abbasids, Turks, Persians, Mongols, Indians, and others.

• Sultana est control over Egypt, led resistance against 7th Crusade, captures leader St. Louis

Shajar ad-Durr

• ruled Abbasid empire for a time, helped public audiences, governors and judges reported to her

Shaghab

• ruled Delhi took firm control of the gov’t., did justice, led her armies and was famed for fair dealing.

Radiyah Begum

• Sakandar Begum took authority in the principality of Bhopal in Central India- Great pilgrimage 1863 daughter ruled until 1901

Two Rulers in Modern Times:

SOME GENERALIZATIONS ABOUT WOMEN IN THE

PROPHETIC AGE

Critical Consciousn

essCounselors Women and

the HijaabWomen at

Work

Facility of Movement

Women and Dynamic

Participation

Rich, Mature, Helpful,

Honorable Lives

Knowledgeable

ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE ON WORKING WOMEN

Most important role is motherhood

ISLAMIC GUIDELINES FOR

WORKMust Obtain Husband’s Consent

Must ensure full care for Home and Children

Appropriate choice for Employment

Must not compromise Islamic Obligations

Must maintain Modesty

1. MUST OBTAIN HUSBAND’S CONSENT

First, she must obtain consent

from her guardian or husband (if married), who

may offer a broader

perspective on how her work may

influence the family and its functioning.

2. MUST ENSURE FULL CARE FOR HOME AND CHILDREN

Secondly, a woman must

ensure that her home and

children are properly cared

for. Her husband may be of

assistance in this area, or

outside help may be employed.

3. APPROPRIATE CHOICE OF EMPLOYMENT

Thirdly, care must be taken to choose

employment that is

appropriate and fits with her skills.

4. MUST NOT COMPROMISE ISLAMIC OBLIGATIONS

Fourthly, any job that

prevents her from fulfilling

any of her Islamic

obligations, is not an option

to be considered.

5. MUST MAINTAIN MODESTY

Fifthly, while at the job, a woman must maintain her inwardly and

outwardly modesty and

chastity.

MUSLIM WOMEN AND KNOWLEDGE

Women An Essential Element From the Beginning to the End

Bearing the Light of ‘A’ishah

Transmitters of Hadith & Scholars of Hadith

Transmitters = Raawiyaat

From the Prophetic Period till the Compilations

THE CRITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS

OF THE COMPANION

WOMEN

What made them amazing?

Education: Obtained Ijazas, attended study circles, taught

others, est. institutions Women are

the full sisters of

men

Full Social and

Political Participatio

n

Work in and outside the Home

Social Contributio

ns

Social and

Societal Maturity

BALANCE TIME BETWEEN WORK AND FAMILY!

CHECK OUT……

Dr. Kanwal Kaisser