Work-Life Balance and Employee Productivity Among Female Bankers in Abuja

This study investigates the relationship between work-life balance and employee productivity among female bankers in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. Banking is recognised as one of Nigeria's most demanding professional sectors, with long working hours, performance targets, and client service pressures that frequently encroach on employees' personal and family lives. This research employs a survey research design, administering structured questionnaires to 105 female bank employees drawn from five commercial banks in Abuja's central business district. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The study examines work-life balance dimensions including working hours flexibility, availability of family-friendly policies, remote working options, childcare support, and managerial sensitivity to personal obligations. Results indicate that working hours flexibility and availability of family-friendly policies exert the strongest positive effects on female banker productivity, measured through self-reported task completion, error rate reduction, and client satisfaction. Remote working options were valued by respondents but remain insufficiently institutionalised in most banks surveyed. The study also finds a significant negative correlation between chronic work overload and both physical health and performance quality among female respondents with dependent children. Recommendations include formalising flexible work policies, expanding maternity and childcare support benefits, and sensitising management to work-life balance imperatives. Keywords: work-life balance, employee productivity, female bankers, banking sector, Abuja.