Women leave work because of family responsibilities: Fact or fiction?

The perception that women leave work because of their family responsibilities often underpins the differential treatment of women and men in organisations. Thus, the present study examines the reasons for women's departure. Forty-four women in the Australian banking sector were interviewed; banking is still a female-dominated industry with a male-dominated hierarchy despite award-winning efforts in complying with AA/EEO legislation since 1988-89. The interviews indicate that, for most, family responsibilities are not the primary reason for leaving their employers. In addition, the interviews unravel a complex web of factors that often make women feel unwelcome in (or 'squeezed out' of) their organisations. Many departures can be attributed to unfriendly and even discriminatory work practices that occur amid real, and sometimes spurious, organisational change imperatives and masculine cultures. The study contributes to the management of human resources literature by countering the assumptions and detailing the facts that lead to women's departures.