THE INFLUENCE OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF GENERATION Z EMPLOYEES THROUGH JOB SATISFACTION AS AN INTERVENING VARIABLE

Abstract

This study aims to examine the effect of work-life balance on the performance of Generation Z employees, with job satisfaction acting as an intervening variable. The growing presence of Generation Z in the workforce, characterized by their emphasis on flexibility, meaningful work, and balance between personal and professional life, has made this issue increasingly important for organizations. This research employs a quantitative approach, with data collected through a structured questionnaire distributed to Generation Z employees within an organization. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling, and the data were analyzed using multiple linear regression and the Sobel test to examine the direct and mediating relationships among variables.The results indicate that work-life balance has a positive and significant effect on job satisfaction and directly influences employee performance. Furthermore, job satisfaction has a positive and significant impact on employee performance. Work-life balance and job satisfaction jointly account for 57% of the variance in employee performance. The Sobel test confirms that job satisfaction significantly and partially mediates the effect of work-life balance on employee performance (z = 3.334, p = 0.001), indicating that work-life balance improves performance both directly and through the satisfaction it generates. These findings suggest that improved work-life balance enhances job satisfaction, which in turn leads to better employee performance among Generation Z employees. This study provides important implications for organizations to design and implement policies that support work-life balance in order to improve employee well-being, satisfaction, and overall performance in a competitive work environment.