Feminist Evaluation of Workplace Policies: Promoting Gender Equality in Pakistani Organizations

Abstract

With the aim of fostering gender equality and inclusivity in organizational settings, an exploration of workplace policies becomes imperative. This quantitative inquiry takes on the task of lensing corporate policies in Pakistan from a feminist perspective, with a sample of 200 women from different sectors. Pakistan's abysmal state of gender inequality is highlighted by its rank of 155th out of 162 countries in the Gender Development Index (GDI), revealing significant disparities. Maternity leave policies are decreed as dissatisfactory (21.3%) and mediocre (23.9%), calling for more supportive and inclusive measures with negative impacts on work-life balance (33.6%) and career trajectory (47.4%). Salary structures are marked by discontent (28.9% dissatisfied, 22.0% very dissatisfied), representing potentially egregious gender-based disparities. Beliefs in gender parity for promotions and salary increases are minuscule (44.2% disagreement). Transparency issues loom large (54.2% communication, 48.2% promotion criteria), suggesting the dire need for improved organizational communication. Harassment policies breed mixed perceptions and are deemed ineffective (35.9%). The findings call for organizational intervention and outline key strategies for the ecosystem of work in Pakistan to forge a more gender-equitable workplace.