Work-life balance programs and employee performance in commercial banks in nyeri county, kenya.

ABSTRACT

It is increasingly becoming difficult to sideline work life balance and the quality of services given by employees. Technological advancement coupled with new information, the inevitability of prompt response, the value attached to satisfactory customer service and its implications on employee commitment and availability, all require time and can be a source of pressure and conflict on employee and as a result the demands of work place begin to be dominant in life and a situation of work-life imbalance follows. The objective of the study was to analyze the effect of work life balance on employee’s performance in commercial banks in Nyeri County. The study was guided by the following specific objectives; to examine the effect of flexible work arrangements on employee’s performance in commercial banks in Nyeri to establish the effect of employee assistance programs on employee’s performance in commercial banks in Nyeri, to determine the influence of employee wellness programs on employee’s performance in commercial banks in Nyeri and to establish the effect of dependent care programs on employee’s performance in commercial banks in Nyeri. The research anchored on four theories namely; spill over theory, hierarchy of needs theory, role balance theory and border theory .The study targeted a total population of 427 employees working in commercial banks in Nyeri County. The study used a semi-structured questionnaire to collect data. The researcher adopted a descriptive research design. A stratified random sampling technique was used to get a representative sample of the population. A sample of 207 was taken to be the representative sample. An analysis of the data was done by use of SPSS and the results were presented using, percentages, bars graphs. As indicated by R square, the Coefficient of Determination, 71.70% of the variation in employee performance (the dependent variable) was explained by variation in the work life balance variables; flexible work arrangement, employee wellness programs, employee assistance programs and dependent care programs assessed (independent variables). As such, only 28.30% of the variation in employee performance was explained by other factors not included in the model. Pearson correlation analysis results established that all the work life balance variables assessed; flexible work arrangement, employee wellness programs, employee assistance programs and dependent care programs were strongly, positively and significantly related with employee performance. Similarly multiple linear regression analysis output indicated that work life balance and its components; flexible work arrangement, employee wellness programs, employee assistance programs and dependent care programs were statistically significant determinants of employee performance. The study makes recommendations on need to enhance the work life balance programs being practiced by banking institutions especially on dependent care programs which was found to be poor.