Work-life balance satisfaction and gender equity within Portuguese community pharmacies staff: findings from a cross-sectional study

Objectives This study aimed to assess the perceived work-life balance (WLB) among community pharmacy professionals in Portugal, focusing on binary gender male/female differences. Methods An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey (QuestionPro®) based on a previously validated instrument, developed for the Portuguese pharmacy practice setting. The survey link was sent to all publicly available community pharmacy email addresses (N = 2838) obtained from the Portuguese National Authority of Medicines and Health Products website. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to identify associations (P < .05). Key findings A total of 384 completed responses were received, with women representing 79.9% of the sample and an average age of 39.7 years (SD ± 10.9). Roles varied, with 85.8% being pharmacists and 14.2% being pharmacy technicians or assistants. Overall, 97.5% of women and 100% of men worked full-time, with 65.7% reporting overtime hours. Satisfaction with WLB was reported by 37.5% of men and 37.3% of women, with women’s responses showing significantly less satisfaction compared to men (P < .05). Women also reported higher dissatisfaction with salary and progression opportunities. Personal life was reported as neglected due to work, with relevant impacts on social activities, hobbies, and relationships. Conclusions Community pharmacy professionals, particularly women, experience challenges in achieving WLB while facing additional domestic responsibilities. Interventions promoting equitable workloads, professional growth opportunities, and strategies to improve personal well-being are necessary to enhance satisfaction and work outcomes for pharmacy professionals.