WORK LIFE BALANCE AS A DRIVER OF EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE FROM INSURANCE COMPANIES IN KENYA

Purpose of Study: This study examined the effect of work-life balance on employee performance in insurance companies in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Specifically, the study assessed the influence of flexible teleworking, wellness programs, family-friendly policies, and reasonable workloads on employee performance, addressing existing knowledge gaps concerning workplace practices and organizational productivity outcomes. Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive research design targeting 520 employees across 65 insurance companies in Nairobi City County, Kenya. A sample of 226 respondents was determined using Yamane's formula. Primary data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis to establish relationships between variables. Findings: The findings revealed that work-life balance practices positively and significantly influenced employee performance in insurance companies. The regression model demonstrated strong explanatory power (R² = 0.837), accounting for 83.7% of employee performance variation. Flexible teleworking exhibited the highest unstandardized coefficient (B = 0.462), followed by reasonable workloads (B = 0.378), family-friendly policies (B = 0.376), and wellness programs (B = 0.345). All four predictors were reported as statistically significant (p < 0.05). The findings indicated that flexible working arrangements, employee wellness initiatives, supportive family policies, and manageable workloads contributed to improved productivity, employee well-being, and organizational effectiveness. Conclusion: The study concluded that work-life balance significantly enhances employee performance in insurance companies. Organizations should prioritize flexible teleworking, comprehensive wellness programs, family-friendly policies, and equitable workload distribution. Implementing these practices can strengthen employee productivity, reduce occupational stress, improve job satisfaction, and promote sustainable organizational performance within Kenya's insurance sector.