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Decent Work Environment and Work-Life Balance: Empirical Analysis of Banking Sector of Hostile Environments

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Abstract

A decent work environment is a crucial concept for promoting work-life balance. Using quantitative analysis with Partial Least Square_ Structural Equation Model, we examined whether four dimensions of a decent work environment, such as employment, social dialogue, social security, and workers’ rights, affect work-life balance of employees in the banking sector of hostile environments. We selected a sample of 379 employees across the four strongest and valuable banking brands in Nigeria. The findings show that three dimensions of a decent work environment, such as employment, social dialogue, and workers' rights, adversely affect work-life balance. These results informed our conclusion that the nature of employment, inadequate social dialogue, and insufficient workers' rights across the banking sector of hostile environments significantly cause a deficiency in work-life balance among workers in this sector. We suggested that policymakers and practitioners emphasize the provision of decent and full employment, adequate opportunity for dialogue with the workers, and workplace rights in designing strategic policies and programs for work-life balance, work-family relationships, and work-family conflict management.

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Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, Ibrahim Kabir, upon reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Business and Economics, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Darussalam, Brunei

    Ibrahim Kabir

  2. Department of Business, Faculty of Management, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

    Umar Gunu

  3. Inti International University, Nilai, Malaysia

    Zainab Lawal Gwadabe

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  1. Ibrahim Kabir
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  2. Umar Gunu
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  3. Zainab Lawal Gwadabe
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Correspondence to Ibrahim Kabir.

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Kabir, I., Gunu, U. & Gwadabe, Z.L. Decent Work Environment and Work-Life Balance: Empirical Analysis of Banking Sector of Hostile Environments. J Fam Econ Iss 44, 297–312 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-022-09843-2

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