Work-Life Balance Practices and Employee Performance in Public Universities in Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70619/vol4iss3pp19-35Keywords:
Work-life balance, Employee Performance, Public UniversitiesAbstract
Purpose: The study examines the influence of work-life balance practices on the employee performance of public universities in Kenya. The specific objective is to find out how work-life balance constructs (work-family conflict, flexible work arrangements, stress, burnout, psychosocial support) influence employee performance at public universities.
Methodology: Descriptive survey design was used guided by Spill over theory, and a positivism philosophy. The target population of the study comprised all employees in 30 accredited public universities in Kenya with a total population of 35,502 employees. A sample size of 385 employees was obtained using the statistical formula of Fisher for calculating sample size and respondents were chosen using a stratified random sampling technique.
Results: The study found that there was a significant positive correlation between work-life balance and employee performance with a regression coefficient of (β = .844, p ˂ .000). Work-life balance constructs accounted for 71.1% variation in employee performance. This means that when work-life balance practices are well managed, employee performance is likely to increase.
Conclusion: The study recommends that public universities in Kenya should focus on improving their work life balance practices to improve their employee performance.
References
Abdulkadir, M. (2018). Work-Life Balance and Employee Performance in the Cabinet Affairs Office, Kenya. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 9(6), 123-134.
Agha, K., Azmi, F. T., & Irfan, A. (2017). Work-Life Balance and Job Satisfaction: An Empirical Study Focusing on Higher Education Teachers in Oman. International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, Vol. 7, No. 3, March 2017. doi: 10.18178/ijssh.2017.
Akbar, S. (2018). Analisa Faktor-Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Kinerja Anggota 0rganisasi. Jiaganis, 3(2), 1–17.
Allen, T. D., Johnson, R. C., Kiburz, K. M., & Shockley, K. M. (2020). Work-family conflict and flexible work arrangements: Deconstructing flexibility. Personnel Psychology, 73(4), 441-490. https://doi.org/10.1111/peps.12397.
Annan, K. (2020). Work-Life Balance and Employee Performance: A Study of the Ghana Audit Service in Cape Coast. Journal of Human Resource Management, 12(3), 245-267.
Ardiansyah, C. A., & Surjanti, J. (2020). Pengaruh Work Life Balance terhadap Kinerja Karyawan melalui Komitmen Organisasi pada Karyawan PT. Bhinneka Life Indonesia Cabang Surabaya. Jurnal Ilmu Manajemen, 8(2018), 1211–1221.
Arif, B., & Farooqi, Y. A. (2014). Impact of Work-Life Balance on Job Satisfaction and Organizational Committment among University Teachers: A Case study of Gujrat, Pakistan. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Sciences and Engineering, 5(9); pp 24-29.
Armstrong, M., & Taylor, S. (2016). A Handbook of Employee Reward Management and Practice. United Kingdom: Kogan: Page Limited.
Aziz-Ur-Rehman, M., & Siddiqui, D. A. (2019). Relationship between flexible working arrangements and job satisfaction mediated by work-life balance: Evidence from public sector universities employees of Pakistan. International Journal of Human Resource Studies, 10(1), 104–127. https://doi.org/10.5296/ijhrs.v10i1.15875.
Baburam, L. (2021). Baburam Lamichhane. Quality of Work-life Perception among Faculty Members of Tribhuvan University. Quality Work Life Perceptions among Faculty Members of Tribhuvan University. Management Dynamics: A Peer-reviewed Journal of Management and Economics, Vol.24, No.1, 2021 ISSN: 2091-0460.
Banu, A. S., & Sundharavadivel, G. (2019). A Relationship Between Work-Life Balance and Job Performance of Employees. International Journal of Human Resource Management and Research (IJHRMR)., ISSN (P): 2249-6874; ISSN (E): 2249-7986 Vol. 9, Issue 2, Apr 2.
Bataineh, K. A. (2019). Impact of work-life balance, happiness at work, on employee performance. International Business Research, 12(2), 99-111. DOI:10.5539/ibr.v12n2p99.
Baquero, A. (2022). Job Insecurity and Intention to Quit: The Role of Psychological Distress and Resistance to Change in the UAE Hotel Industry. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 19, 13629. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijerph192013629.
Bhuvanendran, V. B. (2022). Work-Life Balance as an HR Strategy for Organizational Effectiveness. Drishtikon: A Management Journal, 13(1) 2022, 21-26 http://www.publishingindia.com/drishtikon/.
Charoensukmongkol, P., & Puyod, J. V. (2021). Influence of Transformational Leadership on Role ambiguity and work–life balance of Filipino University employees during COVID-19: does employee involvement matter? International Journal of Leadership in Education: Theory and Practice, https://doi.org/10.1080/13603124.2021.1882701.
CUE. (2019). Commission for University Education: Status of Universities. Nairobi: Available at: https://www.cue.or.ke//index.php//status-of-universities.
Ejertsson, L., Heijbel, B., Ejertsson, G., & Andersson, I. (2018). Recovery, work-life balance and work experiences important to self-rated health: A questionnaire study on salutogenic work factors among Swedish primary health care employees. 59(1), 155–163. https://doi.org/ 10.3233/WOR-172659.
Ghozali, L. (2018). Application of Multivariate Analysis with SPSS Program (9th ed.). Semarang: Diponegoro University Publishing Agency.
GoK. (2007). Vision 2030, Ministry of Planning and National Development and the National Economic and Social Council (NESC), Office of the President. Nairobi: Government Press.
Gomathyi, C. K., Hrushikesh, A. V., Sharbha, B., & Swetha, G. (2022). A Review Paper on Work-Life Balance in Large Organizations. International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management (IJSREM), Volume: 06 Issue: 02 | Feb - 2022 ISSN: 2582-3930.
Government of Kenya. (2020, July 7). Mental Health Taskforce urges government to declare mental health a National Emergency Nairobi, Tuesday, July 7, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2020, from Ministry of Health: https://www.health.go.ke/category/news/
Guest, D. (2002). Human resource management, corporate performance and employee well
being: Building the worker into HRM. Journal of Industrial Relations, 44(3): 335-358.
Hagos, B., & Shimels, Z. (2018). A Literature Review on the Effects of Employee Relations on Improving Employee Performance. International Journal in Management and Social Science, 2321-1784.
Harter, J., & Arora, R. (2017). The Impact of Work-Life Balance on Employee Happiness and Engagement. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 38(2), 273-294.
Ibua, M. P. (2017). Employee Empowerment and Performance of Public Universities in Kenya. The Strategic Journal of Business and Change Management, Vol. 4, Iss. 3 (32), pp 479-495.
Jaya, T. H., Sudhartio, L., Soetjipto, B. E., & Sihombing, S. O. (2021). Work-life balance and employee performance: The mediating role of job satisfaction. Journal of Business and Management, 23(4), 43-53.
Keino, D. C., & Kithae, P. P. (2016). Effects of Work-Life Balance on Staff Performance in the Telecommunication Sector. Archives of Business Research, Vol. 4; No. 1: DOI: 14738/abr.41.1747.
Kembuan, D. T., Sumolang, F. M., & Lapian, S. (2021). The effect of work-life balance and job stress on employee performance. International Journal of Business and Management Invention, 10(6), 16-23.
Kibet, P. C., Misoi, M., & Wanza, L. (2020). Effect of Staff on the Performance of Public Universities: A Case of North Rift Region, Kenya. Journal of Education and Practice, Vol.4, No.2, pp 20-33.
Lukmiati, R., Samsudin, A., & Jhoansyah, D. (2020). Pengaruh Work Life Balance terhadap
Kinerja Karyawan pada Karyawan Staff PT. Muara Tunggal. Jurnal Ekobis Dewantara, 3(3), 46–50. https://doi.org/10.26460/ed_en.v3i3.1688
Mahesh, B. P., Prabhushankar, M. R., Chirag, S. K., & Amit, V. S. (2016). A Study of Work-Life Balance and its Effects on Organizational Performance. International Journal of Engineering Research and Advanced Technology, Vol 2(1).
Maobe, A. K., & Liping, P. (2020, January). Higher Education Reforms in Kenya: Options and Development. International Centre for Teacher Education. Retrieved from https://ssrn.com/abstract=3524744.
Mendis, M. D., & Weerakkody, W. A. (2017). The impact of work-life balance on employee performance with reference to telecommunication industry in Sri Lanka. Kelaniya Journal of Human Resource Management, 12(1), 72-82.
Michel, A., Bosch, C., & Rexroth, M. (2014). Mindfulness as a cognitive–emotional segmentation strategy: An intervention promoting work–life balance. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 87(4), 733–754. https://doi.org/10.1111/joop.12072.
Muhammad, F. A., & Irfan, A. (2020). Impact of Employee Empowerment on organizational performance with mediating role of Organizational Commitment. An empirical study of Telecommunication Sector of Pakistan. Foundation University Journal of Business & Economics, Vol 4: 33350-5560.
Muhammad, R. (2023). The Association Between Work-life Balance and Employee Mental Health: A systemic review. Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management, 18(3), 263–280. https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.495290288231656.
Mukhwana, E. J., & Koskei, L. J. (2018). Tackling the Challenge of Staffing Young Upcoming Public Universities in Kenya. REFORUM Working Document Series (ISSN 1607-9345) No. 15: Available from: http/://repository.ruforum.org, (p. 63 74). Nairobi.
Muma, M. M., Nzulwa, J., Ombui, K., & Odhiambo, R. O. (2019). Influence of Human Resourcing Strategies on Retention of Employees in Universities in Kenya. Unpublished PhD Thesis: JKUAT Repository.
Muma, M. M., Ochego, C., Nzulwa, J., Ombui, K., Odhiambo, R., Wekesa, S., . . . Muo, C. (2019). Influence of Employee Relations Strategies on Retention of Employees in Universities in Kenya. International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research, 1-27.
Muogbo, U. S., & Chineze, J. J. (2019). Effect of Poor Employee Management Relations on Productivity in Business Organization. International Journal of Management and Humanities, 6-13.
Mwangi, K. (2016). Work-Life Balance and Employee Productivity in Public Sector Organizations: A Case of the Supreme Court in Nairobi. Journal of Public Administration and Governance, 6(3), 45-58.
Mwangi, L. W., Boinett, C. C., Tumwet, E., & Bowen, D. (2017). Effects of Work-life Balance on Employees’ Performance in Institutions of Higher Learning. A Case Study of Kabarak University. Kabarak Journal of Research & Innovation:, Vol. 4(2).
Nganga, L. N., & Wanyoike, R. (2022). Influence of Work-life Balance on Employee Performance - A Case Study of Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) – Kenya. IJARKE Humanities & Social Sciences Journal, ISSN: 2617-703X DOI: 10.32898/ihssj.02/5.1article05.
Ngozi, O. (2017). Employee Performance and Work-Life Balance in Commercial Banks: A Study of Lagos State. Journal of Banking and Finance, 15(2), 78-90.
Noe, R. A., Hollenbeck, J. R., Gerhart, B., & Wright, P. M. (2020). Human Resource Management: Gaining a Competitive Advantage. McGraw-Hill Education.
Omar, M. K., Mohd, I. H., & Ariffin, M. S. (2015). Workload, role conflict and work-life balance among employees of an enforcement agency in Malaysia. International Journal of Business, Economics and Law, 8(2), 52–57. http://ijbel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Bus-22.pdf.
Onwonga, V. B., Omari, S., & Kiiru, D. (2020). Onwonga Vane Brenda Bosibori, Dr. Stella Omari, Dr. David Kiiru. The Role of Organizational Factors in the Relationship between Work-Life Balance and Employee Performance. A Case of Selected Companies in Nairobi – Kenya. International Journals Of Academics & Research (IJARKE Business & Management Journal), ISSN: 2617-4138: DOI: 10.32898/ibmj.01/3.1article05: www.ijarke.com.
Platt, R. (2018). The Determinants of Employee Performance: Effort, Skill, and Task Perception. Journal of Business Studies, 12(3), 45-60.
Preena, D., & Preena, M. (2021). Impact of Work-Life Balance on Employee Performance in the Shipping Industry: A Sri Lankan Case Study. International Journal of Business and Management Studies, 13(4), 56-72.
Sidik, A. (2019). Work-life balance and its impact on employee performance: A study in public sector organizations. Journal of Management Research, 11(1), 34-45.
Stup, R. (2013). Managing for Employee Engagement: A Framework for Performance. The Journal of Dairy Science, 96(4), 234-245.
Suhartini, E. (2021). The effect of work-life balance on employee performance at XYZ Company. Asian Journal of Business and Management, 9(3), 102-114.
Tamunomiebi, M. D., & Chika-Anya, H. (2020). Empowerment Practices and Organizational Performance: A Review of Literature: . International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) , Volume IV, Issue VIII, August 2020|ISSN 2454.
Thevanes, N “Relationship between Work-Life Balance and Job Performance of Employees."
IOSR Journal of Business and Management (IOSR-JBM) 20.5 (2018): 11-16.
Valery, M. B., Santati, P., & Hadjr, I. M. (2023). The Influence of Work-Life Balance on Employee Performance (Empirical Study at Telkomsel Regional Sumbagsel Office). Jurnal Penelitian Ilmu Manajemen (JPIM) , https://jurnalekonomi.unisla.ac.id/index.php/jp.
Verma, N., Dhiman, B., & Kaur, J. (2020). Work-Life Balance Approaches to Improve Organizational Performance. International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts (IJCRT): An Open Access Peer Reviewed, Referreed Journal, Vol. 8 (11).
Vision 2030: Government of Kenya: Ministry of Planning and National Development and the National Economic and Social Council (NESC), O. o. (2007). Vision 2030: Government of Kenya: Ministry of Planning and National Development and the National Economic and Social Council (NESC), Office of the President. Nairobi: GOK.
Wu, X., Zhao, Y., & Fils-Aime, J. (2022). Acceptable response rates in online educational
research. Journal of Educational Research, 34(2), 123-135.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Monica Achieng Agunda, Susan Were, Millicent Atieno Mboya
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
