The Impact of Boundary Management Practices on Work-Life Balance: A Study of Employees in National Referral Hospitals in Kampala, Uganda

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the impact of boundary management practices on the work-life balance of employees in national referral hospitals in Kampala. Specifically, it aimed to determine the effect of work-life integration, work-life segmentation, and boundary control on the work-life balance of employees in national referral hospitals in Kampala. Methods: Using a correlational research design, 352 respondents were randomly selected from a target population of 2,914. Adopting a quantitative approach. The data analysis revealed compelling insights through multiple regression. The R Square value of 0.617 revealed that approximately 61.7% of the variance in EWLB can be explained by these three workplace factors. Results: The results indicated that work-life segmentation (WLS) was the strongest predictor of improved work-life balance, with a highly significant positive effect. Boundary control also had a substantial and statistically significant positive impact, though slightly weaker than WLS. Both factors were strongly associated with better outcomes. Work-life integration had no significant effect on the work-life balance of employees in national referral hospitals in Kampala. Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of healthcare institutions prioritizing boundary management strategies as part of their employee wellness and retention initiatives. Recommendation: This study recommends hospitals to implement policies that promote clear work-life segmentation and enhance employees’ boundary control to improve work-life balance.