Measuring the effectiveness of work–life balance strategies in the manufacturing sector

Idris O. Ganiyu,Sulaiman O. Atiku,Ziska Fields,Evelyn Derera

doi:10.4102/sajhrm.v18i0.1216

Abstract

Orientation: The development of an appropriate framework to measure the effectiveness of work–life balance strategies (WLBS) among manufacturing firms in Nigeria is still a major challenge.Research purpose: The main purpose of this article is to measure the effectiveness of WLBS in the manufacturing sector, drawing insights gathered from two selected manufacturing firms in Lagos metropolis, Nigeria.Motivation for the study: Despite the global explosion of research on work–life balance, there is a dearth of studies measuring the effectiveness of WLBS adopted by manufacturing firms in Nigeria.Research approach/design and method: A structured questionnaire was adopted to gather data among 312 employees of the two selected manufacturing firms in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria. Structural Equation Modelling was valuable in establishing the mediating influences of WLBS and work-family satisfaction on the interplay between work-family stressors and the selected manufacturing firms’ performance.Main findings: The study findings revealed that WLBS and work–family satisfaction mediate the interplay between work–family stressors and the selected manufacturing firms’ performance.Practical/managerial implications: To enhance continuous performance, human resource managers of the manufacturing firms should ensure the improved implementation and adoption of relevant WLBS that could help the employees cushion the effect of work and family stressors thereby achieving satisfaction with work and family life.Contribution/value-add: This study develops and validates a framework to measure the effectiveness of WLBS in selected manufacturing firms, Lagos Metropolis. The developed framework could serve as a template which could be replicated in other sectors of the Nigeria’s economy.

Highlights

Introduction and backgroundThe work–life debate is a common discourse in developed countries such that appropriate work– life balance strategies (WLBS) are provided to ensure employees achieve the right mix between work and family domains (Brochard & Letablier, 2017)
Research purpose: The main purpose of this article is to measure the effectiveness of WLBS in the manufacturing sector, drawing insights gathered from two selected manufacturing firms in Lagos metropolis, Nigeria
Main findings: The study findings revealed that WLBS and work–family satisfaction mediate the interplay between work–family stressors and the selected manufacturing firms’ performance

Summary

Introduction

The work–life debate is a common discourse in developed countries such that appropriate work– life balance strategies (WLBS) are provided to ensure employees achieve the right mix between work and family domains (Brochard & Letablier, 2017). Previous studies have shown that despite robust frameworks on WLBS in developed countries, gaps have continued to emerge between the ideal and the actual work–life balance issues because of the changing structure of work (Akanji, Mordi, & Ojo, 2015; Rodó-de-Zárate et al, 2016). Researchers have recognised WLBS as viable human resource (HR) tool which could be adopted in the promotion of organisational efforts aimed at attracting, retaining and motivating the employees (Wei, Yili, & Tian, 2013). Evidence has revealed that the availability of WLBS in an organisation do not suggest such strategies are properly implemented and utilised (Hirschi et al, 2019). The devolution of HR function to line managers implies that a disparity and inconsistency may arise in the HR strategy formulated at the higher hierarchy of HR and the actual implementation by line managers (McCarthy, Darcy, & Grady, 2010)

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