Exploring the Effects of Work Life Balance on Employee Performance in the Banking Sector: A Case study of AB Bank in Lusaka-Zambia.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore management of work life balance and employee performance in the banking sector with special reference to AB Bank branches in Lusaka-Zambia. The study used a mixed method design employing both qualitative and quantitative methods. With a target population of 500 and the sample size of 222 members of staff using Israel Yamane’s sampling formula. Purposive sampling was used to select the 22 managers to be interviewed, and the stratified and random sampling techniques were used to select equal numbers of people from the various branches and departments to make up the 200 members of staff as a unit of analysis. Data were analyzed using computer based statistical data analysis package, SPSS (version 16.0) for quantitative data and content analysis for qualitative data. The data analysis included univariate and bivariate analyses. Using the Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation with one - tailed test of significance, the correlation analysis was made to investigate the phenomena. The study observed poor organizational work culture in AB Bank branches bordering on issues of work life balance which included various factors such as work environment, human resource policies, job insecurities, compensation packages, among others. Moreover, from simple regression analysis, work life balance was found to have a positive impact on employee performance. Findings of this study revealed that parenting and pregnancy policy has no impact on the employee’s performance. Pregnant and parent employees mainly expect maternity leave for adoption and it is covered from the leave arrangements. This also indicates that AB Bank should prioritize creating different work life balance practices for employees by enhancing the use of work life-balance options like flexi time; job sharing and breaks from work so that employees can feel that the organization is facilitating their co-ordination of family and professional lives.