The exigencies of work-life balance for improved productivity in the health sector in Nigeria

Abstract

There have been enormous transformations both in the socioeconomic conditions and demands
of work all over the world. Work and family life influence each other; hence employers, individuals and societies cannot overlook one area without peril to the other. A coordinated balance in work and life will immensely influence the accomplishment of personal and professional goals. Basically, the concept of work-life balance is related to a condition of equilibrium where the demand of a person‟s work equals that of his personal life. Thus, work-life balance requires organizations to effectively create a synergy in employees‟ work and non-work roles so that levels of multiple-role conflict and the attendant stress that affects optimal employee productivity are relatively minimized or avoided. Medical doctors and nurses are knowledge workers whose works are structured into shifts that do not fit the typical pattern of being at the workplace daily by 8am and leaving for the day at 4pm, hence they need a balanced work-life for sustained optimal productivity. This paper seeks to highlight both the different work-life balance practices {such as child-care programmes (like provision of on-site child-care facilities), familycare leave programmes, flexible working arrangements (including telecommuting opportunities, compressed work weeks and flexible working hours), and even on site sleeping quarters for the employees}, and the adverse effects of work-life imbalance on both individuals and organizations. The paper proffers recommendations on ways to correct these imbalances and invariably improve productivity in the health sector in Nigeria.