Title: Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Work-Life Balance Practices and Employee Engagement of Academic Staff at Uganda's Private Universities The Mediating Role of Psychological Well-Being
Authors: Barbara Lynn Amanya, Frank Pio Kiyingi, Francis Kasekende
Volume: 9
Issue: 12
Pages: 72-79
Publication Date: 2025/12/28
Abstract:
This paper examined historical and philosophical foundations of work life balance practices at Ugandan private universities. Grounded on classical and modern thinkers, it traced how ideas about human flourishing, labour, leisure, and personal well-being evolved into work-life balance discourses. Philosophical contributions from early communal traditions of Aristotle, and later reformers like Robert Owen, provided a basis for understanding the moral and social requirements of balancing work with personal life. The analysis highlighted twentieth-century scholars, including Elton Mayo, Douglas McGregor, and Rosabeth Moss Kanter, who advanced organisational perspectives on employee psychological well-being. The paper reviewed theories informing work-life balance, including spillover, conflict, segmentation-integration, and boundary theories. It revealed how global shifts such as industrialisation, labour reforms, dual-earner households, employee assistance programmes, and COVID-19 shaped these practices. The paper concluded that understanding this evolution is essential for managers to narrow gaps between employee expectations and workplace realities.