This dissertation considers that increasing Female Labour Force Participation (FLFP) can highly contribute during the recovery process of an economy in crisis and how the Cyprus job market has changed from pre to post crisis resulting in a high demand for jobs today.
High demand for jobs means that employers have a surplus of potential candidates to select from and therefore it can be assumed that they will be inclined to selecting candidates that can work under the terms of the employer. In most cases, the demographic that is most likely be able to live up to those terms are the men in the Cyprus labour force.
While beneficial in the short-run in respect of keeping HR budgets low, the dissertation questions how this may impact companies in the long-run in terms of job satisfaction and performance.
Assessment of the level of Work Life Balance (WLB) offered by corporate organisations is determined through primary and secondary forms of research and investigates whether or not it correlates to the lack of female decision-makers and the Gender Pay Gap in Cyprus. It identifies that the gender discrimination in the workplace in Cyprus does very much still exist namely due to traditionalist corporate cultures that are still in place as well as examining limitations imposed on women in terms of achieving senior roles in the workplace.
The rationale for primarily determining the current existence of these problems is to bring another assumed problem to the table of which that is the lack of flexible work options that Cyprus has on offer and in turn how opening the doors to more FLFP can benefit the private sector's performance in the market and in turn vastly contribute in terms of profitability to a recovering economy.
Table of Contents
1 Chapter One: Introduction & Dissertation Concept
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Research Background & Dissertation Concept
1.3 Research Questions & Objectives
1.4 Relevance of the Topic to the Current Cyprus Economic Situation
1.5 Scope of Research - Limitations & Delimitations
1.6 Thesis Structure
2 Chapter 2: Literature Review & Analysis
2.1 Introduction
2.2 The Cyprus Pay Gap & The Glass Ceiling - Relevant Sources
2.3 Culture Background of Cyprus - Relevant Sources
2.4 The Demand for Increased Work Life Balance - Relevant Sources
2.5 Flexibility in the Workplace - Relevant Sources
2.6 Job Satisfaction in the Workplace from a Contextual Approach
2.7 Job Satisfaction in the Work Place from a Processing Approach
3 Chapter 3: Methodology
3.1 The Participants of the Study
3.2 The Collection of Data - The Mixed Method Approach
3.3 Structure of the Survey Questionnaire
3.3.1 Section 1
3.3.2 Section 2
3.3.3 Section 3
3.3.4 Section 4
3.4 Evaluation of Results
3.5 Interpretation of the Results
3.5.1 Ontological Analysis - Comparison of Variables
3.5.2 Epistemological - Interpreting Qualitative Data
3.6 Presentation of the Questionnaire
4 Chapter Four: Results
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Primary Quantitative Data
4.3 Primary Qualitative Data
4.3.1 Opinions Regarding Equality at Work
4.3.2 Opinions Regarding Flexibility
4.3.3 Opinions Regarding Negative Cultural Influences
5 Chapter Five: Analysis of Results
5.1 Analysis of Quantitative Findings
5.2 Analysis of Qualitative Findings
5.2.1 First Trend
5.2.2 Second Trend
6 Chapter Six: Discussion
6.1 Introduction: Factors Affecting Female Labour Participation
6.2 Cultural Background
6.3 Shared Values & Beliefs in the Workplace in Cyprus
6.4 A Changing Work Culture?
6.5 Flexibility at Work
6.6 Is Flexibility a Need?
6.7 Increasing Job Satisfaction Increases Job Performance
6.8 Economic Benefits
7 Chapter Seven: Recommendations
7.1 Introduction & Discussion
7.2 Case study: Germany
7.3 Case Study: United Kingdom
8 Chapter Eight: Conclusions
8.1 The Increased Demand for Work Life Balance
8.2 Are certain cultural elements of Cyprus a barrier to the implementation of a healthier Work Life Balance strategies at work?
Research Objectives and Themes
This dissertation examines the challenges faced by female returners in the Cypriot job market, focusing on how rigid corporate cultures and a lack of flexible working arrangements impact job satisfaction, professional progression, and economic productivity. The research seeks to determine whether providing increased flexibility can serve as a catalyst for economic recovery and gender equality.
- The impact of traditionalist corporate culture on female career advancement in Cyprus.
- The relationship between work-life balance, job satisfaction, and employee performance.
- Barriers to female labor force participation (FLFP) and the role of flexible work arrangements.
- The economic benefits of integrating more women into the labor market during an economic recovery.
- Comparative analysis of flexible HRM strategies in international contexts versus the current Cypriot situation.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1 Introduction
Cyprus was so deeply affected by the Eurozone crisis to the point that the economy plummeted in 2013 creating a economic turmoil in the country. One of the major banks in the country, Laiki bank, went bankrupt and depositors of over 100,000 Euro received the notorious haircut.
Nearly 3 years later, Cyprus is still picking up the pieces to rebuild its economy. This punch to the banking system has taught economists and bankers to formulated background checks before giving out loans, to chase bad debts and to make sure that the interest they are giving out on savings is not more than the interest they are receiving from loans.
In 2013, Cyprus went through a bailout and TROIKA became the country’s lender, with constant visits to the Ministry of Finance to ensure that the tools they put in place to get the economy back on track were being followed. One of TROIKA's primary conditions is that the banking system performs appropriate compliance background checks on potential and current borrowers. Eventually, TROIKA will return the economic system to the Cypriot leaders and the lessons taught from the crisis will hopefully build a strong economy which will never again see such an extensive decline in financial gain and employment.
Summary of Chapters
Chapter One: Introduction & Dissertation Concept: This chapter outlines the economic context of post-crisis Cyprus and defines the research scope regarding female labor force participation.
Chapter 2: Literature Review & Analysis: This section reviews scholarly work on gender equality, the glass ceiling, and HRM theories related to flexibility and job satisfaction.
Chapter 3: Methodology: This chapter details the mixed-method research approach used, including the structure of the survey questionnaire distributed to female participants.
Chapter Four: Results: This chapter presents the quantitative and qualitative data gathered from the survey regarding work-life balance and career progression.
Chapter Five: Analysis of Results: This section interprets the findings, highlighting the rigid nature of Cypriot workplaces and the common desire for increased flexibility.
Chapter Six: Discussion: This chapter explores the link between cultural norms, flexibility, and economic benefits, while debating the relevance of traditional management theories for today's generation.
Chapter Seven: Recommendations: This chapter provides actionable suggestions based on international case studies to improve inclusivity and flexibility in the Cypriot labor market.
Chapter Eight: Conclusions: This section synthesizes the research findings, concluding that addressing flexibility needs is essential for future economic productivity and gender equality.
Keywords
Female Labour Force Participation, Cyprus Economy, Work Life Balance, Gender Inequality, Human Resource Management, Flexible Working, Job Satisfaction, Glass Ceiling, Labour Market, Corporate Culture, Economic Recovery, Millennial Workforce, Gender Pay Gap, Career Advancement, Employee Performance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this dissertation?
The dissertation investigates the barriers faced by female returners in the Cypriot job market and explores how corporate organizations can better accommodate these needs to improve productivity and job satisfaction during an economic recovery.
What are the central themes of the research?
Key themes include the impact of traditionalist corporate culture, the necessity for flexible working arrangements, the relationship between gender and decision-making roles, and the economic benefits of increased female participation.
What is the main research objective?
The core objective is to assess whether the current rigid work environments in Cyprus hinder the potential of female returners and to investigate if flexibility strategies can foster a healthier work-life balance and aid economic recovery.
Which scientific methods were employed?
The author utilized a mixed-method approach, combining secondary literature research with primary data collected through an anonymous survey questionnaire distributed to female participants in Cyprus.
What does the main body cover?
The main body moves from a contextual introduction and literature review through to a methodological framework, followed by the presentation and analysis of results, and finally a discussion on cultural barriers and potential strategic recommendations.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The study is best characterized by terms such as Female Labour Force Participation (FLFP), Work Life Balance (WLB), Cyprus economy, flexible working, and organizational culture.
How does the author characterize the 'glass ceiling' in Cyprus?
The author describes it as a tangible obstruction preventing women from reaching senior management roles, often reinforced by traditionalist cultural norms and a lack of support for working mothers.
What is the significance of the 'start-up culture' mentioned in the study?
The author highlights the emerging start-up scene in Cyprus as a potential alternative for women to gain autonomy, flexibility, and decision-making power outside of traditional, rigid corporate structures.
How do traditional management theories, such as Maslow's or McGregor's, apply to this research?
The author critically applies these theories to determine if they adequately address the needs of modern female workers, arguing that Theory Y leadership, which emphasizes trust and flexibility, is essential for contemporary workforce performance.
- Quote paper
- Chloe Mahtaney (Author), 2015, The significance of female labour force participation in a recovering economy, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/321120
