Investigating the Interplay between Sustainable Supply Chain Management and Work-Life Balance: A Study of Banks in Pakistan

Abstract

Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) has become one of the critical strategies in an organization whereby environmental, social, and operational responsibility have been incorporated in the supply chain processes. Although the importance of SSCM to enhance the efficiency and sustainability performance of an organization is not new, the role it has on the welfare of workers especially work-life balance continues to present an area of concern in research. This paper focuses on sustainable supply chain management and work-life balance in relation to bank employees in Pakistan. The quantitative research design was taken and data was gathered on 300 employees working in different commercial banks using a structured questionnaire. The relationship between the variables was studied using statistical methods such as descriptive analysis, correlation analysis and regression analysis. The results indicated that sustainable supply chain management positively influenced greatly the work-life balance of employees. The findings showed that good sustainable supply chain practices enhance the efficiency of operations, ease unnecessary workloads strains, as well as provide organized and supportive working conditions. The correlation analysis revealed the presence of a strong positive correlation between sustainable supply chain management and work-life balance whereas the regression analysis indicated that sustainable supply chain management is an important predictor of employee work-life balance. These results indicate that sustainability conscious organizational behaviors do not only emerge in the operational performance but also in the wellbeing of the employees. The paper finds that sustainable supply chain management is a critical component of enhancing employee work-life balance through enhancing the work processes in an organization and minimizing the work stress. The results are useful to the bank management and policymakers to incorporate sustainability in the organization strategies to improve the welfare of the employees and organizational performance. The strategic approach of developing efficient, responsible and people-oriented organizations, sustainable supply chain management may be used.