RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WORK-LIFE BALANCE PRACTICES AND EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE IN HOMA BAY COUNTY TEACHING AND REFERRAL HOSPITAL, KENYA

Abstract

Work-life balance practices are positive relationship between work and other equal vital activities in life. Inadequate work-life balance practices pose big risks to the employees‟ well-being. The broad objectives of this study is to determine the relationship between work- life balance practices and employee performance in HomaBay County Teaching and Referral Hospital ( HBCTRH), while the specific objectives include; to determine the relationship between flexi-time and employee performance, to establish the relationship between telehealth and employees‟ performance, to determine the relationship between job-sharing and employee performance and to establish the relationship between compressed workweek and employee performance. The study determines the roles played by particular aspects of work-life balance practices in examining employee performance in HBCTRH. The theories underpinning the investigation are Vroom‟s expectancy theory and Spillover theory. The study has adopted explanatory survey design, Stratum sampling technique is used to select 254 employees who are the respondents from the target population of 696 employees from HBCTRH and Yamane formula (1967) is adopted to drive the required sample size of 254 respondents. The respondents were 227 employees which constitute a response rate of 89.4%. The study has utilized structured questionnaires to gather primary data. The study has adopted the use of a pilot study at the rate of 10%. Cronbach‟s Alpha test is adopted to test the reliability of the questionnaire and the findings of the reliability test were as follows; flexi-time 0.634, telehealth 0.617, job-sharing 0.620 and compressed workweek 0.707. The data were analyzed using an inferential statistics method of Pearson correlation analysis to determine the relationship between work-life balance practices and employee performance in Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital. The study shows that, there is a positive relationship between flexi-time, telehealth, job-sharing and compressed workweek and employee performance in HBCTRH. The study concludes that, work-life balance practices are related to employee performance in HBCTRH. Findings of this investigation are expected to guide policy on work-life balance practices to eliminate work-life imbalances at the workplace and to improve employees‟ performance. The study recommends that Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital should emphasize the application of worklife balance practices to enhance employee performance. Further investigation should be considered in other major health institutions in the 47 Counties of Kenya to establish if there could be variability in results.