Flexible Work Arrangements and Employee Wellbeing in Nigeria: A Survey of Selected NGOs in Adamawa State

This study examines the relationship between flexible work arrangements and employee wellbeing in selected non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in Adamawa State, North East Nigeria. NGOs in Nigeria's North East have operated under extraordinary pressure given the humanitarian crisis generated by the Boko Haram insurgency, making employee wellbeing a particularly acute organisational concern. The study adopts a survey research design, with 100 NGO staff members drawn from six organisations in Yola and Mubi selected through purposive sampling. A validated Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale adapted for the Nigerian professional context serves as the primary instrument for wellbeing measurement, while a flexible work arrangements checklist captures arrangement availability. Findings reveal that employees with access to flexible start and finish times, compressed work weeks, or remote working options score significantly higher on wellbeing indices than those working rigid schedules. The study also documents that female employees in humanitarian roles report the greatest wellbeing deficits under inflexible arrangements, given dual caregiving and professional demands. However, the study cautions that flexibility without adequate support structures can lead to boundary blurring and increased stress. Recommendations include formalising flexible work policies within NGO employment contracts, providing wellbeing counselling services, and conducting periodic staff wellbeing audits. This research contributes to Nigerian HRM literature on flexible work in the non-profit humanitarian sector. Keywords: Flexible Work, Employee Wellbeing, NGO, Adamawa State, Humanitarian Sector.