The Impact of Occupational Stress on Operational Level Employees’ Work-Life Balance in ABC Apparel Company, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Apparel industry in Sri Lanka can be identified as one of the main industries in the country, and it largely contributes to the economy of the country. The sector employs about 15% of the country's workforce, and the country is recorded as the highest apparel exports per capita nation in the Asian region. ABC Apparel Company is the one of the leading apparel manufacturing and exporting organizations operating globally with a workforce of more than 40,000. It is found that the operational level employees of the organization tend to have a high turnover, and the current status of the key performance indicators of HR is not at a very satisfactory level. The main reason behind the turnover is mostly the inability of the employees to balance their work and life with the excessive workload and working hours and work-related stress, which lead to frequent absenteeism. Thus, this research study was planned to investigate the impact of occupational stress on operational level employees’ work-life balance in ABC Apparel Company in Sri Lanka. The findings of the research analysis indicate that the sample consists of a higher percentage of females, and many are single in the age group of 20 to 30 years with the highest educational level of G.C.E. Advanced Level and with the working experience in between 1 to 3 years. At the same time, the reliability of all the variables is in an accepted level, and the correlation of the variables is also significant. Also, the regression analysis provides the results that there are direct relationships in between the variables of job security and the work life balance and the role conflict and the work life balance, and further there are positive relationship between the work load, role ambiguity and work after hours with the work balance. Keywords: Apparel Sector, Work Life Balance, Role Ambiguity, Role Conflict, Work after Hours, Job Security