Abstract:
Work-life balance and employee engagement are crucial elements that foster
organisational growth and stability; however, in the banking sector of the
Trincomalee District, institutions struggle to manage public assets efficiently, a
challenge likely intensified by prevalent employee disengagement and inadequate
performance, thereby necessitating this investigation. Focusing specifically on banks
in Kinniya, this study aims to (1) examine the relationship between work-life balance
and employee engagement and (2) determine the impact of work-life balance
dimensions on the level of employee engagement. Guided by a positivist research
philosophy and a deductive approach, a quantitative survey strategy was employed.
Data were collected from a sample of 91 bank employees selected through stratified
random sampling, using a structured questionnaire measured on a five-point Likert
scale, achieving a 77% response rate. Analysis via SPSS version 26.0 revealed a
significant positive correlation (p<0.01) between the constructs. The multiple
regression analysis further indicated that factors including flexible work policies,
supervisor support, and co-worker support collectively accounted for a substantial
proportion of the variance in engagement (R² = 0.467, p<0.05). The study concludes
that work-life balance is a statistically significant and positive predictor of employee
engagement. This finding contributes to existing knowledge by providing empirical
evidence from a specific regional context, suggesting that banks in Kinniya can
strategically enhance employee engagement and, consequently, organisational
performance by adopting technology-enabled flexible work arrangements, deploying
digital wellness platforms, instituting smart workload management tools, and
fostering a supportive organisational culture that prioritises employee well-being.
