A Research Report Submitted to School of Public Administration and Management in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Award of Master Degree of Master of Science in Human Resource Management (MSc. HRM) of Mzumbe University
The major assumption of work life balance is to derive to work/personal life enhancement. Yet in Tanzania public service still reports imbalances and growing gap between work/employment priorities and social/family priorities among servants despite the efforts and well established public service machinery. This study aimed at to find the factors responsible for work life balance in Korogwe town council specifically to administrative rank position by scrutinizing factors for work family conflicts, family work conflicts and strategies in ensuring balances of work/employment priorities and family priorities. The study employed a case study research design to tap the information required on the matter and the sample size of sixty eight (68) respondents were involved: forty questionnaire respondents randomly selected from different stratum (the departments and divisions) and twenty eight interview respondents purposively selected from the Korogwe town council’s senior officials including the Mayor and Executive Director. Data gathering was done through multiple methods: interview, questionnaire and documentary review. Quantitative data derived from questionnaire were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics and also the use of relevant frequency, tables and percentages while the qualitative data were coded, transcribe, categorized and summarized into relevant emerging themes in relation to the research questions. A narrative approach in terms of direct quotes was used to present qualitative data. Meanwhile the study revealed that work-personal life enhancement is not effectively ensured in KTC because of socio-geographical factors, personal work related factors, intimidating rules, un-systematized planning and scheduling characterized by quantity work overload and effects of family stress and organizational stress in administering daily responsibilities to ensure work-personal life enhancement in KTC. Based on the findings, some of the recommendation were made includes the following: (1) The council to encourage employees’ self awareness and time management skills, (2) Servants to remain alert that family matters should not intervene work matters and the verse-vesa, (3) Encourage self evaluation among employees and (4) Servant’s enthusiasm and consciousness to work plus team working spirit should be encouraged and strengthened within KTC.