Paper #6

Impact of Work Life Balance on the Social Life of Workers Living in Lagos Metropolitan Borders

Oyedele O. Ola, Willoughby O. John, Olaniyi A. Simeon and Oyero A. Mutiu

Abstract: The need to maintain proper work life balance is becoming increasingly important; it has motivated several academic research efforts. In the quest for Lagos transformation from a mega city to a smart city, work life balance issues as it has to do with housing, work and urban liveability remains a contemporary issue that calls for keen attention. The rate of population increase in Lagos is not commensurate with the availability and development of social infrastructure, which has caused a number of the workers gainfully employed in Lagos to seek such in nearby state - Ogun State, specifically border towns which includes Ota, Ifo, Mowe, Magboro, Ibafo, Agbara etc. Consequently, such employees face job stress and work-life conflict caused by long working hours, unrelenting traffic, early resumption and late closure at work. This research examined the plausible consequence of work life imbalance measured by job stress and work-life conflict on the social life measured by job satisfaction and wellbeing of such people. A sample of 242 respondents was selected for survey using Yaro Yamane random sampling method & Rao Soft sample estimation method. Primary method of data collection was used. A well-structured questionnaire was administered and interviews were conducted while responses were analysed using product moment correlation and linear regression. Results proved that work life balance has profound impacts on the social life of workers in Lagos Metropolitan borders. This paper recommends that individuals should take active roles in ensuring work life balance; organisations must proactively identify and understand demographic & work related factors; create supportive workplace policies; adopt & implement flexible work strategies and assume the responsibility of reducing/eliminating job stress. In addition, Government should intervene and initiate measures to tackle transportation inadequacies with legislations on provision of work life balance incentives for workers.

Keywords: Employee Social Wellbeing; Job Stress; Work Life Balance; Work-life conflict.