<![CDATA[This study employs Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore the lived experience and subjective meaning of work flexibility for women's career empowerment in star-rated hotels in Semarang. Eight female employees from various departments of 3-5 star hotels participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews. The analysis generated four superordinate themes: (1) the meaning of work flexibility in the hotel context, (2) work-family balance negotiation strategies, (3) psychological empowerment through flexibility, and (4) women's career barriers. Findings reveal that in the 24-hour hospitality industry, work flexibility is primarily understood as control over shift schedules rather than location flexibility. Access to schedule flexibility enhances all four dimensions of Spreitzer’s psychological empowerment: meaning, competence, self-determination, and impact. Self-determination emerged as the most affected dimension, where the ability to manage work schedules increased perceptions of autonomy and life control. Supervisor support as border-keepers and female solidarity play crucial roles in work-family balance negotiation. However, glass ceiling barriers and gender stereotypes remain persistent. This research provides a novel theoretical integration of work-family border theory and psychological empowerment theory, offering practical implications for gender-sensitive HR policy development in the hotel industry.Keywords: Hospitality Industry; Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis; Work Flexibility, Psychological Empowerment; Women's Career.]]>
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