A balanced life

The corporate world is fast evolving. From flexible hours to a hybrid work model, most companies are revising their policies to increase productivity by ensuring employees are not stressed. The adoption of such policies is slow in Pakistan, which is why leading institutions have recommended introducing family-friendly workplace policies here. A joint report by the Pakistan Business Council (PBC), Unicef and UN Women, titled ‘Mapping Family-Friendly Workplace Policies in Pakistan’, highlights the crucial role of such policies in strengthening the social sector, businesses, employees and Pakistan’s economic growth. The report says that steps like parental leave, flexible work and childcare support improve employee well-being, child development, gender equality and economic sustainability. Per the report, Pakistan has over 92 million children under 14. With limited formal childcare, many parents have to either leave their careers or refuse more responsibilities as they are the primary caregivers of their children. In most cases, women have to make this sacrifice.

This, however, is not limited to Pakistan. According to a Global Gender Gap report, many women have turned to small, home-based businesses to earn income and also be present for their children and their homes. In Pakistan, too, there has been a growing trend of home-based businesses. But such informal setups also come with their own set of challenges, making the entire exercise less fruitful. Most experts strongly believe these policies are essential for a modern, resilient workforce, leading to better talent retention, lower absenteeism and greater gender diversity. Our workforce has a lot of potential, but the fact that half of our population is stuck in domestic responsibilities is hurting Pakistan’s ability to reach high economic growth targets. And while the lack of formal childcare hurts parents, it also clips the wings of older siblings who have to look after the younger ones when their parents are not home.

In that context, it is good that we have a starting point. The latest report on workplace policies examines the impact of family-friendly policies, particularly childcare, on economic growth, gender equality and workforce retention. It urges businesses to understand employee needs and explore sustainable childcare models, recommending flexible work arrangements and employer-supported childcare. In our country, several young mothers and married women have faced a ‘motherhood penalty’ where they are denied better opportunities because they are perceived as not being interested in their career. It is time to remove this bias and create a Pakistan that respects all talents and allows those needing assistance to advance in their careers. Our bright minds sit at home, slowly losing their potential, because our workplaces are completely ignorant of parents’ needs. Such policies should not be limited to maternal or paternal leaves. We have to draft polices where parents can be actively involved in their children’s lives – from regular PTMs to annual programmes, there has to be some leniency for employees.