THE IMPACT OF TELEWORKING ON WORK-LIFE BALANCE: A STUDY ON WOMEN EMPLOYEES IN COLOMBO DISTRICT PRIVATE BANKS, SRI LANKA

Abstract

This study aims to examine the impact of teleworking on work-life balance with the mediating effect of work stress of women employees in Colombo district private banks, Sri Lanka. Initially, many employees, especially female employees, were very eager for the work-from-home policy, since it helped them to carry out their office work while attending to household responsibilities. In the Sri Lankan context, there is a significant empirical and knowledge gap with respect to the impact of teleworking on the work-life balance of women employed in the banking industry. The banking sector, which is considered one of the most dynamic industries in Sri Lanka, has been selected to conduct the analysis.

The study was conducted by considering three licensed commercial banks in the Colombo district of Sri Lanka. This study was conducted with a quantitative nature. The study collected primary data from a sample of 132 respondents through a structured questionnaire, which included questions on teleworking, work stress, and work-life balance. The collected data was used for descriptive analysis, simple regression analysis, and mediating analysis using SPSS software. All the constructs were valid, reliable, and fit with the research model. The impact of teleworking on work stress and work-life balance is significantly mediated. Finally, the study's results confirmed that teleworking positively impacts work-life balance as well as teleworking and work stress have a significant influence, either directly or indirectly, on the work-life balance of women employees in private banks in Sri Lanka. The present study's implications, limits, and future courses are also examined.