Gulf News published a report on June 11 regarding an Iranian company's instructions to it's employees to either get married before the deadline issued or face the possibility of being fired. That raises the question: are married or single employees more valuable to a company? Does it even matter? Employees should be evaluated on their performance and what they can bring to an organisation instead of being judged on their marital status.
Married employees create a more stable work environment.
It doesn't matter whether an employee is single or married. People want to be challenged and feel that their skills are being used to their full potential. If employees feel that they are being recognised for what they contribute to an organisation then they will be motivated to do their best. That is what creates a stable work environment, regardless of their marital status.
– Nadia Hissin
Abu Dhabi
As a training consultant I noticed that married employees are able to communicate more effectively because they are used to communicating with their spouses and families. They also learn how to share tasks and compromise on various issues. So when they work, they bring those skills to their organisation and team, so they are able to create a more stable environment compared to some of their single counterparts.
– Saeed H.
Canada
Married employees are more dedicated and consistent in their work because they have families to support. They perform their duties to the best of their knowledge and abilities so they will get a good review from their employers. Moreover, married employees have a strong determination to advance in a company. Their decision-making abilities are more mature as compared to single employees.
– Susana A. Cochingco
Oman
Married employees have more experience than their single counterparts because they are used to communicating with their spouses. Also, married employees are more comfortable because of their spouses and families. Single employees are busy with other things in their personal lives. Because of that, married employees might make the workplace more stable since they are used to following a routine.
– Alloysius Mescardhas
Sharjah
Single people tend to be more productive as they are not bound by family responsibilities.
Because single employees don't have as many responsibilities as married people, they can contribute more. Also, single employees are more motivated to advance their careers so they devote a lot of their time to the company. They want to establish their reputation so would sacrifice more time and energy to reach the goal they had set for themselves. So they give more to the company.
– Abdullah Khabbaz
Abu Dhabi
If an employee is married then they have other responsibilities that they have to focus on as well. If the employee is a working mother then she would not only have to concentrate on her work but also on raising her children and taking care of the house. But single employees can spend more time at work so they will contribute more to the organisation.
– Zeina Sabea
Abu Dhabi
It depends on the attitude of the employee. But a married employee might be more productive because they have responsibilities, such as making sure they can provide for their family. A single employee might not be as driven if his or her expectations aren't met. But while married employees work hard, single employees work smart — that is, they are more creative than married employees.
– Khurram Ali
Sharjah
Single employees do not have to worry about responsibilities such as ensuring that they are able to provide for their family. Married employees usually base their careers or work on the needs of their family so they don't want to do anything to risk their position with a company. Because of that, they are usually willing to work longer hours in order to further their careers.
– Sathya S.
Dubai
Married people sometimes bring their spousal problems to work impacting performance.
Some do but they shouldn't because that is a private issue. They should separate their personal lives from their work lives because otherwise it would affect both the person and his team. When you're working it's about the team and not about yourself and your personal life.
– Mira Zabbal
Canada
When there are problems at home it causes a barrier in communication. When an employee is facing problems at home, he might be distracted and that could affect his performance at the office. Also, if he discusses it with his co-workers then he might bring them into his problem, which might be awkward for the team. It might also distract everyone from their work because they are discussing his problems.
– Ramzy Hayek
Sharjah
Sometimes when an employee talks about his or her problems at work, it helps them because their colleagues could give them advice or they find out that they aren't the only ones with this problem. If the problem was a serious one, then their performance might be impacted but if it is a small one then they can put it behind them and focus on their work.
– Caroline Hassett
Dubai
It depends on the employee and the nature of his job. The more an employee climbs the chain of command at his company, the more he will be able to differentiate between his personal problems and his work problems. When employees are in a senior position, they learn not to ‘mix business with pleasure' as the saying goes and that would help them focus on their work.
– Shyam Prasad
Sharjah
Single people have less of a loyalty to an organisation.
Single people dedicate more time to a company because they do not have any responsibilities in their personal lives. If they are rewarded and motivated for their work then that makes them even more attached to a company. Especially if they are given bonuses or promotions because they feel that the company is their company so they want to make sure that it's successful.
– Anthony Lowell
Abu Dhabi
Single employees focus more on their work and what they can contribute to an organisation because they don't have to worry about things like their spouses or families. Married employees might be distracted if there are any problems that they are facing at home. But at the same time, married employees might feel dependent on an organisation so they would think twice about leaving.
– Jean Paul H.
Abu Dhabi
Married employees are more loyal than single employees because they have more responsibilities. They don't want to risk the consequences of what might happen if they quit and how it would impact their families. Single employees might leave if they feel that they can get a better opportunity in another organisation. Married employees would prefer to play it safe and stay in the same organisation.
– Disha Bhalla
Sharjah
Being single or married shouldn't be a factor when it comes to loyalty to a company. While single employees might feel that they have more freedom to change jobs, it doesn't mean they would do it if they were happy with their employer. It all depends on a person's personality. But married employees might be more loyal because they can't afford to lose their job.
– Jamie Stinson
Dubai
