Work life balance among hotel employees in Cagayan de Oro City during COVID-19 pandemic, Misamis Oriental

Abstract

The tourism and hospitality industry in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental faces new challenges as the COVID-19 virus continues to hinder business operations. The issue of balancing both work and life in the current context of the pandemic forces the industry to reevaluate work-life policies and management. This study aims to assess the relationship of the hospitality employees' personal environment, demographic profile, and existing work-life balance (WLB) policies by gathering data through a questionnaire and evaluating the data through the use of descriptive statistics. The variables under personal environment include Support from family, Child or Dependent Care, and Self-Management. Variables under the work environment are: WLB policies, Workplace support, workload, and financial assistance. Lastly, the demographic profile of employees includes age, sex, civil status, and length of service. It was found that most respondents disagree that a work-life balance is achieved in their personal environment while agreeing that it is achieved in their work environment. Most respondents belong in the younger age group mostly of male, single, and having 1-5 years of work experience in the field. Those in the older generation aged 39 to 54 years old responded more positively when prompted to answer questions that entail a work-life balance in Support from Family, Childcare, Dependent Care and Self-Management. The researchers suggest further improvement on flexible working hours and flexible working arrangements, to prioritize productivity over working hours, regular job performance evaluations, and the provision of childcare services.