Women’s Perception of Flexibility: Autonomy, Balance, Productivity

Priyanka Sagar Pawar , Sheetal Vijay Hipparkar

The study explores how women perceive Flexible Work Arrangements (FWAs) in the period following the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing mainly on productivity, work-life balance and autonomy. The pandemic changed the way we work, pushing many organizations to move away from traditional office setups and embrace more modern methods like remote work, hybrid models and flexible schedules. This shift from traditional setups to flexible schedules has made FWAs an essential part of many businesses that operate today. This research is descriptive and quantitative, involving working women of various ages from different industries including Education, Healthcare, IT and Finance. A total of 119 women were chosen through specific method of selection to get a wide range of opinions from different jobs. The data was presented as percentages and visually displayed through bar graphs and pie charts to enhance clarity and understanding. The findings indicate that women generally feel flexible work arrangements boost their productivity, give them greater control over their tasks, and help them achieve a better balance between their work and personal lives. These ideas are true for women of all ages, whether they are married or not and whether they have children or not. The findings suggest that organizations should adopt flexible work policies and create supportive management practices. Creating flexible and gender-sensitive workplaces not only benefits women employees but also propels overall organizational growth. Companies that support women's needs through FWAs foster an environment where employees can perform well while maintaining harmony in their personal and professional lives. This research highlights the value of making workplaces more inclusive and adaptable, ensuring both employees and organizations thrive together in this new world of work.