Women across the MENA region are, for the most part, satisfied with their life, though they are torn when it comes to job satisfaction: while four in10 say they are happy with their job on an overall level, an equal four in10 feel the complete opposite. Despite this, levels of motivation within the workplace are high, with57% claiming to be ‘motivated’ or ‘highly motivated’ as compared to23% who are either ‘not so’ or ‘not at all motivated’.
More than a third of women in the region (37%) are unhappy with their current degree of financial independence, and46% are unhappy with the remuneration they currently receive, making money a major motivational factor. Beyond this, though, having their work and achievements recognised is a major boon for half of MENA women (49%). Training and development opportunities, and the potential for career advancement is also of high importance, particularly the latter as56% of women feel dissatisfied with the prospect of future promotions. Personal fulfilment, and the feeling that their work has an impact, are also important factors, as are monetary incentives, certificates and rewards of time off in recognition of achievements.
The ability to maintain a good work-life balance is a strong motivational factor for97% of women, with six in10 (58%) claiming that their current employer supports a healthy balance. This is likely a contributing factor for80% of women to feel satisfied with their familial relationships, while62% are happy with their ability to maintain healthy personal relationships with family and friends.
Despite the level of contentment with being able to balance work and life,58% of women take work home or work overtime. Four in10 (39%) consider it to be part of their job requirements, though34% do so because they like to finish projects they are working on early. For33%, putting in extra hours is the only way they can meet their work deadlines.
Four in10 (41%) women want to stay with their current employer for at least the next12 months, though73% of all employed women in MENA are either actively looking for a new position, or are willing to leave if the right job offer comes up. The perceived lack of employment opportunities across the region is likely affecting employees’ ability to change company;69% of women are either ‘somewhat’ or ‘extremely dissatisfied’ with employment opportunities where they live.
Three quarters (76%) of women would recommend their current organisation to family, friends and associates, likely influenced by the fact that seven in10 feel that their job gives them a strong sense of personal and professional achievement. There is a high degree of positive sentiment in regards to the perception of job significance:81% of women believe that their job is significant to their colleagues, customers and business partners, and88% believe that the work they do is significant and important to their company. Seven in10 feel that their job is significant to society and their country of residence.
On the whole, women are satisfied with the majority of elements in their workplace, such as physical working conditions and space, professionalism and knowledge level of colleagues, and interpersonal relationships with their fellow workers. They are content with the flexibility of their work timings, the levels of recognition and appreciation received for good work, personal and professional growth, and job security.
Some of the less well-accepted aspects of the workplace include dissatisfaction with the responsibilities they are required to fulfil, compensation and benefits received, quality of job and training opportunities, and the fact that promises to employees are rarely kept. Women in MENA would like to see better feedback and suggestion systems for raising issues with management, and a degree of variety within job duties.
Levels of stress amongst women in the region are high, with65% claiming that their everyday life leaves them either ‘somewhat’ or ‘extremely stressed’. While the increasing cost of living is a major contributor to this for69% of women, work-related issues is a significant factor for five in10 (46%). The economic situation in their country of residence is a worry for44%, while38% equally consider family demands and the inability to maintain a good work-life balance to be a problem.
On an average working day, half of the women in the MENA region (48%) feel stressed –18% of them consider themselves to be under severe stress, with29% stating they face excessive work pressures on a daily basis. A third claim to face such pressures at least once a week.
And yet, despite the perceived levels of stress caused by everyday life and work,86% of women are satisfied with their current mental wellbeing, and78% are satisfied with their physical wellbeing.
“More and more, women in the Middle East and North Africa are achieving their professional goals and making vital contributions to the successes of individual businesses and the overall economy,” said Suha Mardelli Haroun, HR Director and Regional Sales Manager, Bayt.com. “They are embracing their careers wholeheartedly, as can be seen from the high levels of engagement that women feel towards their jobs. At Bayt.com, our mission is to empower men and women across different demographics in the MENA with the tools and information to build their lifestyle of choice. The results of our surveys fall in line with Bayt.com’s experience with the MENA workplace, and with our analysis of employee and employer habits and aspirations to present a clear picture of the regional employment market.”
Data compiled from the Bayt.com ‘Employee Motivation in the MENA’ (December6-162012) and ‘Happiness and Wellbeing in the MENA’ (June6-202013) surveys.