Preena, R., & Preena, R. (2021). Impact of Work-Life Balance on Employee Performance: An empirical study on a Shipping Company in Sri Lanka. International Journal on Global Business Management and Research, 10(1), 48–73. Show 26 Pages Posted: 10 Jun 2021 Rushna PreenaUniversity of Kelaniya - Faculty of Commerce & Management Studies Date Written: February 1, 2021 AbstractIn the modern world, balancing professional life and family life has become a great challenge for almost every organization. Also, the absence of work-life balance has an adverse effect on employee performance in many respects. Thus, it is essential to understand the impact of work-life balance on employee performance. Consequently, this study will analyze the impact of work-life balance on employee performance. Furthermore, this research will elaborate on the relationship between work-life balance and employee performance as well. Accordingly, a quantitative study is conducted by collecting primary data through a self-administered questionnaire. The secondary data for the study were collected through books, journals, and articles. Moreover, this study comprised a sample size of 84 employees of a leading shipping company in Sri Lanka. The sampling technique was convenient sampling. Data analysis comprised of both inferential and descriptive statistics. Descriptive statistics included frequencies, means, and standard deviations. When it comes to Inferential statistics, the impact of work-life balance on employee performance was analyzed using simple linear regression analysis by using the SPSS tool. Based on the correlation analysis, it was revealed that there is a strong positive relationship between work-life balance and employee performance. Then the regression analysis confirmed that there is a significant impact of work-life balance on employee performance. Thus, based on these research findings, the theoretical and managerial implications and directions for future research and at last, the limitations of the current research are discussed. Keywords: Work-Life Balance, Employee Performance, Spillover Theory, Shipping Industry, Sri Lanka Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation Preena, Rushna, Impact of Work-Life Balance on Employee Performance: An empirical study on a Shipping Company in Sri Lanka (February 1, 2021). Preena, R., & Preena, R. (2021). Impact of Work-Life Balance on Employee Performance: An empirical study on a Shipping Company in Sri Lanka. International Journal on Global Business Management and Research, 10(1), 48–73. , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3856506 Abstract:Work life balance has the most dominant effect on employees performance and their productivity by sustaining well being of workers and lessen work stress, which in return maximize efficiency. The main purpose of this study was to disclose the impacts of work life balance on employee performance in the case of Zeta Construction PLC. The participants of the study were employees of Zeta Construction in Addis Ababa. In order to collect data, the researcher employed simple random sampling techniques to select participants of the study and total 154 questionnaires were distributed and came out 100% response rate. Plus the researcher used quantitative research strategy to further describe the phenomenon and applies both descriptive and explanatory approach. In addition to analyze the data SPSS version 26 were used, the reliability of questionnaire items had been tested using Cronbach's alpha, the study applied descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation analysis and regression analysis. The result indicated that among the work life balance factors leave and job sharing are the most important and significant factors to achieve employee performance, and job stress has strongly negative relationship to the dependent variable. Based on the finding : the company should work on different work life balance practices as employee shows great interest and employee performance will be highly influenced by those factors and also Employees must also take the lead to share a job amongst themselves to lessen the job stress to increase performance and productivity. Over the pandemic, the idea of work-life balance emerged as one of the fundamental workplace issues, particularly as the world transitioned to remote work. Competing family obligations, adjusting to working from home, and job creep posed productivity and mental health problems of real import for organizations. Employees and corporations alike struggled to find middle ground that worked for everyone. The proxies for poor work-life balance and workplace stress--things like insomnia rates--showed that people were, indeed, suffering and that companies and employees needed to take this balance much more seriously. Employees are only human, and your human capital dictates your productivity. With that in mind, below are the primary ways having a work-life balance affects workplace productivity. Better MotivationEmployees are more motivated to take on duties at the office when they have a healthy work-life balance. A nice balance would leave them feeling rejuvenated, and because there is less tension and anxiety at work, the positive balance makes it easier for individuals to execute their office tasks. There is a newfound drive and zest to tackle work because there are plenty of other things to live for. A motivated employee is more productive and efficient. He or she approaches work with a good attitude, and more often than not, it permeates the entire office. Work-life balance, therefore, is something to encourage because it is a self-perpetuating productivity enhancer. As always, it should start from the top down. Leaders need to normalize and legitimize work-life balance so that workers take the cue and incorporate it into their own lives. Lower StressThere has always been a link between higher stress and decreased productivity. When you are stressed, your cortisol levels rise, impairing your performance at work. Your inability to complete all of the duties scheduled for the day, despite the strain you put on yourself, will cause you to come to a halt, lose confidence, make poor impressions on your coworkers, which will eventually cause you to despise your job and, as a result, your productivity will suffer. This is the last thing you want from your staff as a business owner. A strong work-life balance permits people to take a break from work to meet their personal demands and vice versa. In turn, this reduces the tension and stress your employees feel as a result of the strain of constantly having to put one facet of their lives aside for the other. Oftentimes people are so accustomed to overwork and neglecting the other parts of their lives that they need to be shown how to go about reclaiming some of their work-life balance. Less Likely to Burn OutBurnout occurs when you have overworked yourself to the point that you no longer have the strength or desire to work. It's a full-fledged stress attack. Burnout symptoms include melancholy, fatigue, and even loss of attention or difficulty to think properly — all of which reduce productivity. Consider it more akin to an overheating engine. In such a case, the vehicle will be unable to proceed until it reaches the proper operating temperature. Burnout is greatly reduced when there is a strong work-life balance. Employee productivity will improve as a result of dealing with the symptoms of burnout, and you can often preempt a breakdown simply by learning to identify the signs you are either facing one down or in the middle of one. Better Mental HealthWork and work-related factors are usually the leading cause of mental health problems. Too much work, too little time off and poor work-life balance are all culprits. Employee productivity is almost invariably affected by these toxic conditions, and it can even lead to employees checking out of their work altogether. With a healthy work-life balance, mental health and well-being will improve. Employee productivity will rise when absenteeism, loss of concentration, and poor decision-making owing to poor mental health decreases. When a worker's mental health is getting in the way of their ability to perform and hit targets, it is usually a sign that a work-life balance talk is in order. Positive Sentiment Towards Work and EmployersWhen workers enjoy a healthy work-life balance, they very often feel much more positively about their work, their managers and their coworkers. This is for obvious reasons: when work isn't the only thing you do, you will feel much better about it. This holds true for many things in life. Balance is what puts things into perspective. If you feel like all you have to worry about and look forward to every day is the same old office routine, at the expense of your interpersonal relationships, hobbies, and even just time spent sitting still and not doing anything, you will resent that one thing. ConclusionWork-life balance, at its core, implies not sacrificing one's private life for professional concerns. It is often hard won and involves tough conversations with oneself and, potentially one’s employer as well. There are plenty of ways to accomplish this and, of course, it means different things for different people. Some of us are much more immune than others, or at least have more resistance to the onset of burnout and the resulting drops in productivity. Others have family demands that necessitate good work-life balance and quickly succumb when their personal life goes out the window in favour of non-stop work. As a manager, encouraging work-life balance should be viewed as part of your productivity-promoting arsenal, recognizing that when employees live fuller lives that they have more say over, everyone wins. How does work/life balance affect performance?When employees have a healthy work-life balance, they are more energised and motivated to take on duties at the office. A motivated employee is more productive and efficient. They generally approach work with a good attitude and this is very likely to have a positive knock-on effect on the entire team.
How does poor work/life balance affect employees?Employees who lack work/life balance experience an unhealthy level of stress, which can contribute to more family conflicts, relationship issues, and physical and mental health problems. Not surprisingly, their work performance also suffers.
Does work/life balance have a relationship with work performance?Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is not only important for health and relationships, but it can also improve your employee's productivity, and ultimately performance.
What are the benefits of work/life balance in employees?7 Benefits of a Work Life Balance for Employers & Employees. Better staff retention.. Increased productivity.. Higher employee engagement.. More profitability.. Strong brand reputation & more applicants.. Increased morale.. Reduced absenteeism.. |
