Crisis-Informed Recruitment, Retention, and Promotion Policies

Abstract

Crises, ranging from natural disasters to economic downturns, have profound impacts on organizations and exacerbate existing inequalities, particularly affecting women. Women face greater job losses, increased caregiving responsibilities, and a widening gender pay gap during crises. To mitigate these effects, human resources (HR) departments must adopt strategic, proactive measures to ensure equal opportunities and support for women. This desk review examines the impact of crises on women's recruitment, retention, and promotion (RRP) in organizations across eight MENA countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia. It provides an overview of regional crises and their effects on RRP policies, culminating in recommendations for organizations to implement effective, crises-informed HR practices.