Introduction
Upon investigating the existing body of work, it can be seen that several papers investigated the connection between WLB and other factors. In addition, some research considered the importance of WLB in the UAE specifically. However, the effects of poor work-life balance specifically in the Emirates are poorly explored, leaving a significant gap in research.
Importance of Work-Life Balance
Work-life balance is an important concept in the professional sphere, contributing to the well-being of employees and their performance. As a term, it pertains to the amount of time a person spends working, versus the time they use to attend to family matters or their own private life. It has the potential to affect many aspects of a person’s life, including their mental wellness, work satisfaction, performance, and overall satisfaction with life. The struggle of finding a balance that will satisfy both the employers and employees has been difficult, particularly due to differently aligned interests.
However, modern research into workplace organization suggests that giving workers sufficient time for non-work activities has significant implications on their performance (Shobitha & Sudarsan, 2014). Some authors state that there is an identifiable connection between the web and work engagement as well, although its nature has been left inconclusive (Wood et al., 2020). In the discussion of the UAE, similar research has been done to discuss the work environment. First, Al Nuaimi (2020) explores the topic of low employee engagement within the UAE. Such problems as low salaries, lack of career opportunities, poor turnover, and job satisfaction all contribute to the issue (Al Nuaimi, 2020). The low employee engagement then contributes to an overall work environment and the wellness of organizations within the UAE. Al Suwaidi (2019) considers the work environment to be one of the mediating factors for maintaining a good work-life balance in the Emirates. The author also highlights a need to establish an enabling work culture, one that can promote better employee well-being.
Quality of Life and Satisfaction in the UAE
To discuss work-life balance, it is also necessary to consider its potential connection with other social factors. In particular, quality of life and work satisfaction are important, as they can gauge the well-being of employees in their day-to-day lives. Present research signifies that a good work-life balance allows employees to feel heightened job satisfaction (Silaban & Margaretha, 2021). Feeling less stressed about their personal lives and fulfilled, people can give more to their occupations, and derive more enjoyment from the process. Such considerations as the quality of life have also been present in the current body of discussion, owing to the need to improve the wellness of people in the Emirates. An evaluation examining a variety of factors, including people’s work performance, found that there were still many areas of social life that brought dissatisfaction people (Godchaux-Berezhnova & Moonesar, 2021). To promote better living conditions in the UAE, a range of different factors need to be enhanced. As the work-life balance is connected with other determinants of work/life satisfaction, improving it may be productive in resolving some of the present issues in the Emirates.
Conclusion
A critical review of the impact work-life balance has on all areas of life is a necessity in the effort of improving the conditions of different working people. For individuals in more demanding professions, in particular, promoting a need for better WLB is a necessity.
References
Al Nuaimi, A. (2020). Low employee engagement in the UAE: Causes and solutions to overcome the issue. Human Capital in the Middle East, 51-72.
Al Suwaidi, E. Y. (2019). An evaluation on the factors influencing happiness at working environment in UAE government entities: A literature review. Open Journal of Business and Management, 07(03), 1460-1470.
Godchaux-Berezhnova, I., & Moonesar, I. (2021). Using Global Practices & Policies to inform the UAE Quality of Life & Wellbeing in the 21st Century. Mohammed Bin Rashid School Of Government. Web.
Shobitha, P., & Sudarsan, N. (2014). Work life balance: a conceptual review. International Journal of Advances in Agriculture Sciences, 3(2), 1-17.
Silaban, H., & Margaretha, M. (2021). The impact work-life balance toward job satisfaction and employee retention: Study of millennial employees in Bandung city, Indonesia. International Journal of Innovation and Economic Development, 7(3), 18-6.
Wood, J., Oh, J., Park, J., & Kim, W. (2020). The relationship between work engagement and work–life balance in organizations: A review of the empirical research. Human Resource Development Review, 19(3), 240-262.