The Influence of Work-Life Balance and Workload on Job Satisfaction with Job Stress as an Intervening Variable in Banking Employees in Makassar City

Work-life balance, workload, and job stress are important factors influencing employee well-being and job satisfaction in the banking sector. However, the extent to which job stress mediates the relationships between work-life balance, workload, and job satisfaction requires further investigation. This study aimed to analyze the effects of work-life balance and workload on job satisfaction, with job stress as an intervening variable among banking employees in Makassar City. A quantitative survey was conducted involving 275 respondents from Bank BRI, BNI, Mandiri, and BTN. Primary data were collected using a Likert-scale questionnaire and analyzed using structural equation modeling with Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS). The results showed that work-life balance had a positive but insignificant effect on job stress, whereas workload had a positive and significant effect. Work-life balance had a negative but insignificant effect on job satisfaction, while workload and job stress each had a positive and significant effect on job satisfaction. Furthermore, job stress did not significantly mediate the relationship between work-life balance and job satisfaction or the relationship between workload and job satisfaction. These findings indicate that the relationships among work-life balance, workload, job stress, and job satisfaction vary in direction and statistical significance. The study contributes to understanding employee job satisfaction in the banking sector and suggests that bank management should promote work-life balance and manage workloads effectively while addressing job satisfaction through broader organizational strategies rather than relying solely on reducing job stress as a mediating mechanism.