Work-life Balance Practices Among Female Employees in the Public Service Commission, Kenya

Abstract

Recent changes in the nature of work along with introduction of new technologies have led to many employees struggling to balance roles in their work and personal life. In response to these changes and the conflict they generate among the multiple roles that individuals occupy, organizations are increasingly pressured to implement work practices intended to facilitate employees’ efforts to fulfill both their employment-related and their personal responsibilities. The objective of the study was to determine work-life balance practices among female employees in the Public Service Commission, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive research design. Data was collected from the female employees of the Public Service Commission using a self-administered structured questionnaire. It was analyzed using descriptive statistics, like the mean and the standard deviation. The researcher used MS Excel and SSP as the tool for data analysis. The results of the study indicate that the Public Service Commission female employees practice work-life balance practices relating to: time- time off to take care of family members and attend to emergencies; Place - flexibility in choosing the place of work especially directorates that interact with clients outside duty stations and resources provided for; job- work‐related responsibilities cannot be shared as individually, targets have to be meat; benefits such as training; paid for leave like maternity among others. Assistance for Baby/day care, onsite convenience shops are not provided for by the Commission. Counseling/Health facility is underutilized. The study recommended that greater attention be paid to practices relating to benefits such as Baby/Day care, Onsite exercise facility or subsidized exercise facilities/gym membership and work place convenience shops. Further, the Commission should consider introducing flexible working hours and increase work autonomy. The study recommended further studies to be conducted in other constitutional Commissions in Kenya as well as the entire Kenyan public service.