Work–life balance, leadership support and development opportunities as predictors of employee well-being in public hospitals: evidence from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

Purpose This empirical study aims to investigate the impact of work–life balance, leadership support and development opportunities on employee well-being in public hospitals utilizing theory of organizational justice in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Design/methodology/approach The research employs a quantitative and cross-sectional approach utilizing structured questionnaires conducted among employees in public hospitals in Kinshasa (n = 346). The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 statistical software. Findings The findings indicate a significant and positive impact of work–life balance and development opportunities on employee well-being. However, it is found that leadership support has an insignificant impact on employee well-being. These findings provide actionable insights for public hospital managers or supervisors in Kinshasa seeking to optimize employee well-being. Originality/value This research extends existing literature by providing evidence from public hospitals in institutionally fragile Sub-Saharan African contexts, where empirical research remains scarce.