Work–Life Balance and Employees’ Turnover Intention: A Study of Private Banks in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq

Work–life balance (WLB) has become a critical concern in contemporary organisations and is widely considered an important antecedent of employees’ turnover intentions. This study examines the level of perceived WLB and turnover intention among private bank employees in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and investigates the relationship between these two constructs. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was employed, and data was collected from 101 bank employees, of which 80 usable responses were analysed. Established scales for WLB and turnover intention were administered, and data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation. The findings indicate that employees report a moderate level of WLB and a moderate level of turnover intention. A statistically significant moderate positive correlation (r = 0.483, p < 0.01) emerged between WLB (measured as work–life conflict) and turnover intention, suggesting that higher levels of work–life imbalance are associated with higher intentions to leave. The results highlight the importance of organisational initiatives that support employees’ WLB to mitigate turnover intention in the banking sector. The study contributes to the limited empirical literature on WLB and turnover intention in Iraq and provides practical implications for human resource management in private banks in Sulaymaniyah.