EFFECT OF FLEXIBLE WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WORK LIFE BALANCE ON EMPLOYEE JOB PERFORMANCE: MODERATING ROLE OF SELF-REGULATORY EFFICACY

Abstract

Employees are vital to achieving organizational goals, yet in Nigeria, the manufacturing sector, despite its potential as a key driver of economic growth contributes relatively little to GDP and underperforms compared to expectations. One major reason for this shortfall is the poor performance of employees. This study examined the moderating role of self-regulatory efficacy in the relationship between a flexible work environment, work–life balance, and employee performance in manufacturing firms. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 422 respondents and analyzed with structural equation modeling (SEM) via the partial least squares (PLS) method using SmartPLS 4. Results revealed that both a flexible work environment and work–life balance have significant positive effects on employee performance. Additionally, self-regulatory efficacy significantly strengthened the relationship between a flexible work environment and employee performance. However, it showed no significant moderating effect between work–life balance and performance. Based on these findings, the study recommends that manufacturing firms in Kano State invest in targeted capacity-building initiatives to enhance employees’ self-regulatory skills. It also suggests institutionalizing and actively promoting flexible work arrangements, such as telecommuting, flexible scheduling, and compressed workweeks, to create a more adaptable and productive workforce. These strategies could help unlock the sector’s potential, improve productivity, and strengthen its contribution to Nigeria’s economic development.