Osuizugbo, I C; Oshodi, O S; Kukoyi, P O; Yohanna, H S and Edike, U E (2025) Implementation of work-life balance strategies among construction companies in Lagos, Nigeria: Construction workers' perspectives. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 23(3), pp. 998-1016. ISSN 1726-0531
Abstract
Purpose: The construction industry in Nigeria has a complex environment, comprising several combinations of consulting professions, clients, contractual arrangement and investors, with longer working hours than other industries. Work–life balance (WLB) strategies are used to balance professional life and personal life. This study aims to assess the extent of implementation of WLB strategies among construction companies in Lagos, Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach: This study adopts a survey research technique. Snowball sampling technique was adopted to identify the targeted respondents for the administration of questionnaire. A total of 156 questionnaires were distributed and a response rate of 66% (103 questionnaires were completely filled and returned) was attained. Data elicited were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings: Results from this study provides evidence that the level of implementation of WLB strategies among construction companies in Lagos state, Nigeria is on the average. The results also revealed organisational understanding, paternity/maternity leave and flexible working arrangement as the top most three WLB strategies implemented among the construction companies in Lagos, Nigeria. Originality/value: This study contributed to more effective WLB studies by identifying new information on the extent of usage of WLB practices in the Nigerian construction sector as well as offers a fresh perspective on the usage of WLB in a developing country. An understanding of these strategies is significant for companies' stakeholders, such as management personnel, top construction professionals and policymakers, and for facilitating the adoption and implementation of WLB strategies among construction organisations.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction companies; implementation; Lagos; Nigeria; practices; work–life balance; questionnaire survey |
| Index terms: | construction company, survey, strategy, personnel, developing country, construction sector, questionnaire, evidence, working hours, methodology, Nigeria, construction organization, investor, work-life balance, construction industry, implementation, construction worker, statistics, sampling, Lagos State, construction professional, Lagos, profession |
| Subjects: | Geography, development economics, research methods, practitioner, institututions, evaluation and assessment methods, organization, contractual arrangements, employment law, professional development, management, industry analysis, sociology, data collection methods, mathematical modelling |
| Topics: | Legal Issues, Geographical Context, Procurement, International Construction, Human Resources, Business Strategy, Information Management, Research Practice, Stakeholder Management, Roles and Professions |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here