The Influence of Social Policy Practices and Gender Egalitarianism on Strategic Integration of Female HR Directors

The strategic integration of the HR director is important for the strategic role of HRM. A considerable number of women hold HR director positions with varying strategic integration across countries. This article deals with the impact of societal factors on the strategic integration of female HR directors. It analyzes the consequences of social policy practices facilitating women’s participation in work for the strategic integration of female HR directors and additional effects resulting from the interplay between these practices and gender-egalitarian attitudes at the societal level. A study of 984 companies with female HR directors in 16 countries shows that while enabling social policy practices are positively associated with strategic integration of female HR directors, related gender-egalitarian attitudes do not have a supporting effect.