Work Life Balance and Employee Performance of the Kenya Ports Authority, Mombasa County, Kenya
Abstract
Corporate organizations aspire to have a pool of employees who are satisfied in their work life
balance. Naturally, people’s sense of work life balance is, to a considerable extent, the product of
the climate or environment in which they conduct their lives. It’s about people having a measure
of control over when, where and how they work. There hasn’t been an effort made in the past to
evaluate the effect of work life balance on employee performance at the Kenya Ports Authority.
The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of work life balance on employee
performance. The specific objectives of this study was to establish the effects of employees’
welfare support, employee dependents’ care and support, employee leave Programs and flexible
work arrangements on employee performance at KPA. The study adopted descriptive research
design. The targeted population was the employees of KPA who are about 6474. Simple random
sampling method was used to eliminate bias. The sample size was 130 employees. Data was
collected using questionnaires with structured closed-ended questions. The study used quantitative
approach to analyze the data collected. In order to ensure validity of the questionnaire, a pre-test
was done in a pilot survey and test and re-test method was used to ensure reliability of the
questionnaire. Regression model was used to analyze the data collected to identify the relationship
between independent and dependent variables. The study found that employee welfare support
wields significant effect on employee performance registering a positive statistical association with
an R-value of 0. 563.The study also found that, employee dependents care positively impacted on
employee job performance, with a significant statistical association recording an R-value of 0.658.
The findings show that employee leave programs wield significant positive effect on the employee
performance with a significant statistical association with an R-value of 0.704. The study shows
that flexible work arrangements wield significant positive influence on employee performance
with an R-value of 0.678. The study makes a conclusion that work life balance factors notably;
employee welfare support, employee dependents care and support, and employee leave programs
and flexible work arrangements wield a significant positive effect on employee performance. The
study recommends adoption of employee focused social programs, including; comprehensive
healthcare support programs, ensuring job security, construction of decent social amenities such
as recreational and sanitary facilities. The study also recommends for the adoption of
comprehensive employees’ dependent care and support programs such as health care. Finally, the
study recommends for adoption on employee motivational initiatives such as; work leaves such as
vacations, sick leaves, study leaves with full remuneration benefits, and the adoption of moderate
flexible work programs such as shifts and regular flexible schedules.