An Analysis of How Work-Life Balance Impacts on Employee Performance and Turnover in the Hotel Industry in Uganda

  • Musoke Aggrey Mountains of the Moon University
  • Twagirayezu Jean Pierre Mt. Kigali University
  • Ingabire Stella Mt. Kigali University
  • Kalulu Ronald Mountains of the Moon University
Sambaza Makala:

Ikisiri

Purpose- The study explored the relationship between organizational work culture, work-life balance and employee turnover in selected hotels in Uganda and was prompted by the increasing employee turnover in hotels. Method- It purposively sampled employees from selected hotels in Kampala.  A cross-sectional survey design was used with a sample size of 278 out of the total population of 1000 hotel employees. Findings- Findings indicated that organizational culture and work-life balance significantly predicted 70% employee turnover. The study recommendations were that hotels in Uganda should improve organizational work culture and work-life balance so as to reduce employee turnover. Originality of the research – While previous research has extensively explored work-life balance in corporate settings, there is limited insight into its interaction with organizational culture within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which this study addresses. This study uniquely combines social identity theory and organizational support theory to examine how organizational culture influences work-life balance perceptions among diverse employee groups. Employing a mixed-methods approach, this study integrates quantitative surveys with in-depth interviews, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of how organizational culture impacts employee work-life balance. By offering insights into the link between flexible work arrangements and organizational culture, this research provides actionable recommendations for HR managers to improve employee engagement and retention. In the context of increased remote work and shifting workplace expectations post-COVID-19, this study offers fresh insights into how flexible organizational cultures can better support employee work-life balance.

Upakuaji

Bado hatuna takwimu za upakuaji.

Marejeleo

AHLA (American Hotel & Lodging Association). (2023). State of the Hotel Industry Report.

Allen, T. D., Herst, D. E. L., Bruck, C. S., & Sutton, M. (2000). Consequences associated with work-to-family conflict: A review and agenda for future research. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 5(2), 278–308.

American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). (2023). Industry turnover report.

Anderson, S. E., Coffey, B. S., & Byerly, R. T. (2002). Formal organizational initiatives and informal workplace practices: Links to work-family conflict and job-related outcomes. Journal of Management, 28(6), 787–810.

Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E. (2017). Job demands–resources theory: Taking stock and looking forward. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 22(3), 273–285. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000056

Benedict, Ruth. (1934). Patterns of culture (Vol. 8): Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Cameron, Kim, & Caza, Arran. (2002). Organizational and leadership virtues and the role of forgiveness. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 9(1), 33-48.

Carvalho, V. S., & Chambel, M. J. (2016). Work-family conflict and enrichment profiles: The role of job demands and resources. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 21(4), 391–403.

Charlesworth, Sara, Strazdins, Lyndall, O'Brien, Léan, & Sims, Sharryn. (2011). Parents' jobs in Australia: Work hours polarisation and the consequences for job quality and gender equality. Australian Journal of Labour Economics, 14(1), 35.

Chatman, Jennifer A., & Jehn, Karen A. (1994). Assessing the relationship between industry characteristics and organizational culture: how different can you be? Academy of Management Journal, 37(3), 522-553.

Chatman, Jennifer A, Polzer, Jeffrey T, Barsade, Sigal G, & Neale, Margaret A. (1998). Being different yet feeling similar: The influence of demographic composition and organizational culture on work processes and outcomes. Administrative Science Quarterly, 749-780.

Chiang, C. F., & Jang, S. (2008). The effects of internal marketing, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment on turnover intention. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 8(4), 326–337.

Choi, S. L. (2020). The impact of work-life balance on job satisfaction and turnover intention: The moderating role of perceived organizational support. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 90, 102617.

Clark, Sue Campbell. (2001). Work cultures and work/family balance. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 58(3), 348-365.

Daft, Richard L., & Lengel, Robert H. (1983). Information richness. A new approach to managerial behavior and organization design: DTIC Document.

Davidson, M. C. G., McPhail, R., & Barry, S. (2011). Hospitality HRM: Past, present and the future. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 23(4), 498–516.

Davidson, M. C., McPhail, R., & Barry, S. (2011). Hospitality HR issues and solutions: A literature review. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 30(3), 677-683. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2010.10.006

Deery, M., & Jago, L. (2015). Revisiting talent management, work-life balance, and employee turnover in the hotel industry. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 30(2), 56-65.

Deery, Stephen, Iverson, Roderick, & Walsh, Janet. (2002). Work relationships in telephone call centres: Understanding emotional exhaustion and employee withdrawal. Journal of Management Studies, 39(4), 471-496.

Deshpandé, Rohit, & Farley, John U. (2004). Organizational culture, market orientation, innovativeness, and firm performance: an international research odyssey. International Journal of Research in Marketing, 21(1), 3-22.

Eby, L. T., Casper, W. J., Lockwood, A., Bordeaux, C., & Brinley, A. (2005). Work and family research in IO/OB: Content analysis and review of the literature (1980–2002). Journal of Vocational Behavior, 66(1), 124–197.

Elizabeth, V. (2007). Young women and the transition to motherhood: Dealing with labour market disadvantage. Women's Studies Journal, 21(2), 45–60.

Felstead, A., Jewson, N., Phizacklea, A., & Walters, S. (2002). Opportunities to Work at Home in the Context of Work-Life Balance. London: Routledge.

Frone, M. R., Russell, M., & Cooper, M. L. (1997). Relation of work-family conflict to health outcomes: A four-year longitudinal study of employed parents. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 70(4), 325–335.

Goh, E., & Okumus, F. (2020). Service employee burnout and engagement: The moderating role of tourism development. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research, 44(2), 245-259. https://doi.org/10.1177/1096348018785221

Greenhaus, J. H., & Beutell, N. J. (1985). Sources of conflict between work and family roles. Academy of Management Review, 10(1), 76–88.

Haar, J. M., Russo, M., Suñe, A., & Ollier-Malaterre, A. (2019). Outcomes of work-life balance on job satisfaction, life satisfaction and mental health: A study across seven cultures. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 110, 244–260.

Hofstede Insights. (2020). Cultural dimensions: An analysis.

Hofstede, Geert, Hofstede, Gert Jan, & Minkov, Michael. (1991). Cultures and organizations: Software of the mind (Vol. 2): Citeseer.

Huey Yiing, Lee, & Zaman Bin Ahmad, Kamarul. (2009). The moderating effects of organizational culture on the relationships between leadership behaviour and organizational commitment and between organizational commitment and job satisfaction and performance. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 30(1), 53-86.

Hughes, Joanna, & Bozionelos, Nikos. (2007). Work-life balance as source of job dissatisfaction and withdrawal attitudes: An exploratory study on the views of male workers. Personnel Review, 36(1), 145-154.

Kalliath, Thomas, & Brough, Paula. (2008). Work-life balance: A review of the meaning of the balance construct. Journal of Management & Organization, 14(03), 323-327.

Kalulu, J., et al. (2019). Employee retention in Uganda’s hospitality sector. Journal of Business and Hospitality Management, 8(1), 45-59.

Karatepe, O. M. (2013). High-performance work practices and hotel employee performance: The mediation of work engagement. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 32, 132-140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2012.05.004

Kim, H. J., & Jogaratnam, G. (2010). Effects of individual and organizational factors on job satisfaction and intent to stay in the hotel industry. Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality & Tourism, 9(3), 318–339.

Kusluvan, S., Kusluvan, Z., Ilhan, I., & Buyruk, L. (2010). The effects of employee job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and performance on guest satisfaction in the hospitality industry. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 10(4), 279–293.

Kysilka, P., & Csaba, B. (2020). The financial impact of employee turnover in the hotel industry. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 89, 102567.

Lewis, Suzan, Gambles, Richenda, & Rapoport, Rhona. (2007). The constraints of a ‘work-life balance’ approach: An international perspective. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 18(3), 360-373.

Ma, L. (2005). The impact of family-friendly policies on women’s employment. Social Policy Review, 17(1), 175–196.

Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities. (2022). Annual Tourism Sector Performance Report.

Mugisha, J., Okech, R. N., & Ssemwogerere, H. (2021). Employee retention and organizational performance in East Africa’s hospitality sector. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 10(4), 1182–1197.

Nakiwala, C., & Katongole, M. (2021). Work-life balance and employee turnover in Ugandan hotels. Uganda Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, 10(3), 89-102.

Namagembe, S., & Ssali, R. (2021). Work-life balance, employee engagement, and turnover in Uganda's hotel sector. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 10(2), 589-601. https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720-151

Nkundabanyanga, S. K., Muhwezi, M., & Arach, A. (2019). Challenges in achieving organizational effectiveness in Uganda’s hospitality sector. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 8(5), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720-198

Nkundabanyanga, S. K., Muhwezi, M., & Arach, A. (2019). Organizational culture and employee engagement in Uganda's hospitality sector. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 8(4), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720-183

Nkundabanyanga, S. K., Muhwezi, M., & Arach, R. (2019). Work environment, employee satisfaction and performance in Uganda’s hotel sector. International Journal of Management and Sustainability, 8(1), 12–28.

Parkes, Louise P, & Langford, Peter H. (2008). Work-life balance or work-life alignment? A test of the importance of work-life balance for employee engagement and intention to stay in organisations. Journal of Management & Organization, 14(03), 267-284.

Rantanen, Johanna, Kinnunen, Ulla, Mauno, Saija, & Tillemann, Kati. (2011). Introducing theoretical approaches to work-life balance and testing a new typology among professionals Creating Balance? (pp. 27-46): Springer.

Schein, E. H. (2010). Organizational Culture and Leadership (4th ed.). Jossey-Bass.

Thomas, L. T., & Ganster, D. C. (1995). Impact of family-supportive work variables on work-family conflict and strain: A control perspective. Journal of Applied Psychology, 80(1), 6–15.

Tsaur, S. H., & Lin, Y. C. (2004). Promoting service quality in tourist hotels: The role of HRM practices and service behavior. Tourism Management, 25(4), 471– 481. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0261-5177(03)00117-1

Tumwine, A., Akisimire, R., & Kawooya, D. (2020). Employee turnover and work-life balance in Ugandan hotels. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 9(3), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720-136

Tumwine, G., & Akisimire, R. (2019). Work-life balance and employee retention in Uganda’s hospitality industry. Journal of African Business and Management, 12(3), 45–61.

Tumwine, G., Akisimire, R., & Kawooya, P. (2020). Organizational culture and employee performance in Uganda's hotel industry. African Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, 9(1), 15–30.

Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). (2022). Statistical Abstract. UBOS.

Uganda Tourism Board (UTB). (2022). Annual report on workforce in hospitality.

Uganda Tourism Board. (2022). Sector Human Resource Trends Report 2022.

UNDP Uganda. (2022). Tourism Sector Recovery and Growth Strategy Post-COVID-19.

Walsh, K., & Taylor, M. S. (2007). Developing in-house careers and retaining management talent: What hospitality professionals want from their jobs. Cornell Hospitality Quarterly, 48(2), 163–182.

Wayne, J. H., Musisca, N., & Fleeson, W. (2004). Considering the role of personality in the work-family experience: Relationships of the Big Five to work-family conflict and facilitation. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 64(1), 108–130.

Weber, Yaakov. (1996). Corporate cultural fit and performance in mergers and acquisitions. Human relations, 49(9), 1181-1202.

Weick, Karl E, & Quinn, Robert E. (1999). Organizational change and development. Annual review of psychology, 50(1), 361-386.

Weiss, H. M., & Cropanzano, R. (1996). Affective events theory: A theoretical discussion of the structure, causes and consequences of affective experiences at work. Research in Organizational Behavior, 18, 1–74.

World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). (2023). Economic Impact Report. WTTC.

Tarehe ya Uchapishaji
1 Mei, 2025
Jinsi ya Kunukuu
Aggrey, M., Pierre, T., Stella, I., & Ronald, K. (2025). An Analysis of How Work-Life Balance Impacts on Employee Performance and Turnover in the Hotel Industry in Uganda. African Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Management, 4(1), 94-114. https://doi.org/10.37284/ajthm.4.1.2931