Work Life Balance: Comparative Study between a Public Organisation and a Private Organisation in Maun, Botswana

Abstract

The aim of this study was to unearth the similarities and differences in Work Life balance systems in the private and public sector contexts. Work Life balance has been researched over time and most studies carried out were largely conceptual and not pragmatic. A number of studies carried out used secondary data to develop theoretical foundations (Stirgy & Lee, 2018; Aziz & Chang, 2013; Allen et al, 2013).

This study was carried out in Maun, Botswana and it included two organisations, one drawn from the public sector and the other from the private sector. The study utilised a qualitative design. The sampling method used was purposive and data was collected using the interview method. The overall manager and 10 employees in each of the two organisations were interviewed. The data collected was then analysed using content analysis and the responses were then developed into themes.

The study found that there were a number of similarities and differences between the public organisation and the private organisation in terms of Work Life balance. The study also found that the factors that either enhance or inhibit work life balance in both sectors were similar. The study noted that there is a trade-off between work demands and personal life demands and that there is an apparent inverse relationship between the two. The more attention and time given to work, the more the employee’s personal life deteriorates and viceversa. The study confirmed what other authors found that when there is no balance between work and life, employees tend to absent themselves from work, perform poorly at work and in some cases resignations become rife.

The study further noted that both the public organisation and the private organisation do not have specific policies that address work life balance. They derive their actions from existing legislation such as the employment act, health and safety act inter alia. Interestingly, it was further noted that employees in the public organisation had more ‘free-time’ than those in the private organisations. This is consistent with other studies that have been carried out where it was found that most Government owned organisations employ more than the required number of employees and most end up idling in the organisation. In the private organisation, the employer minimises costs by employing the least number of employees possible so as to maximise their profit. This tends to overload employees with work.

The researchers recommended that a quantitative study may need to be conducted in order to measure the extent to which Work and Life affect each other and how they influence other variables. It is also recommended that the two organisations should develop specific policies to address and enhance Work Life balance.