ABSTRACT
This descriptive case study design, using the grounded theory method, explored the work-life balance of academic and support staff personnel at Northern Iloilo State University to develop a theory that could guide public managers in handling public organizations, particularly in academe. A total of ten (10) participants were selected to participate in focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and key informant interviews. Audio recordings of the FGD, IDI, and KII were transcribed and analyzed following the 3-stage coding process – open, axial, and selective coding – employing the constant comparison technique. Using thematic analysis, the researcher identified patterns, created codes, and arranged the codes into themes; significant themes emerged. These were the nature of work-life balance, strategies for achieving work-life balance, barriers to achieving work-life balance, and the impact of work-life balance on performance. The themes were tested, determining the explanations that led to the emergence of a theory, which the researcher called "The North Star" theory.
Keywords: Work-life balance, State university, Public managers
INTRODUCTION
Achieving work-life balance (WLB) has appeared as a pressing issue in public administration, particularly in educational institutions. WLB describes the harmonious balance between work-related duties and personal commitments. For state university personnel, maintaining this balance is essential, given their high job demands in teaching, research, administration, and student services.
According to Dousin, et al., (2021), work-life balance is managing conflicts between work and personal demands to satisfy one's needs for well-being and self-fulfillment.
Work-life balance is increasingly crucial in the 21st century, as employees, including those in education, face mounting pressure to meet job demands while maintaining personal lives. For academic and support staff, achieving balance is particularly challenging. Identifying the factors affecting work-life balance is essential for improving employee welfare, performance, and institutional effectiveness.
State university administrators face challenges in developing effective work-life balance policies. This research aimed to provide insights for managerial decisions, promoting healthier work environments. The findings may inform effective human resource policies, alleviating work-life balance issues to boost job contentment, retention, and total institutional performance.
Blurring the divide between professional and personal spheres has made attaining equilibrium increasingly difficult (Herawaty, et al., 2024). A harmonious the nexus between work and family responsibilities is crucial for well-being and success (Vaziri et al., 2022). Effective work-life balance fosters a supportive work environment, boosting loyalty, productivity, and job satisfaction (Inegbedion, 2024), and positively impacts recruitment, retention, and commitment.
State universities face the challenge of delivering quality education while maintaining faculty and staff productivity and satisfaction. Growing academic demands and personal obligations can compromise work-life balance. Public managers in educational institutions must promote a healthy work-life synergy to promote employee wellness, job contentment, and optimal performance.
Despite its importance, academic and support services personnel often face high job demands and limited support, resulting in emotional exhaustion, burnout, and diminished job fulfillment.
The investigation explored the work-life balance of academic and support services personnel, examining factors that impact their work-life integration skills and assessing implications for public managers in state universities, particularly in policy development as well as strategies and Initiatives that promote employee health, happiness, and resilience.
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