EFFECT OF WORK LIFE BALANCE ON EMPLOYEES’ PRODUCTIVITY IN ADEKUNLE AJASIN UNIVERSITY, AKUNGBA AKOKO ONDO STATE

Work-life balance (WLB) has become a central issue in academic institutions where heavy workloads and multiple responsibilities often reduce staff well-being and effectiveness. At Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), employees struggle to balance teaching, research, administrative duties, and personal commitments, raising concerns about productivity and job satisfaction. This study therefore examined the effect of work-life balance on employee productivity at AAUA. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. A population of 3,000 staff was considered, and a sample of 353 respondents was drawn using Taro Yamane’s formula. Data were collected with structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, regression, and correlation techniques with the aid of SPSS. Findings revealed that employees perceived WLB as important to their productivity (grand mean = 3.02 > 2.50). Regression results showed a weak direct relationship (R² = 0.017), but factors such as flexible scheduling, manageable workloads, and supportive relationships strongly influenced both WLB and productivity (R² = 0.634). Challenges in balancing roles were moderate (mean = 2.99) and did not significantly reduce productivity. The study concluded that practical enablers are more effective than policy alone in improving productivity. It recommended flexible work arrangements, equitable workload distribution, supportive leadership, and wellness programs to strengthen staff well-being and performance. Keywords: work-life balance, employee productivity, flexible scheduling, workload management, workplace support