AN EXAMINATION OF THE WORK-LIFE BALANCE UNDER THE NIGERIAN EMPLOYMENT LAW

Abstract

Work, work, work all day with no avenue to pay attention to other aspects of one’s life brings with it neglect and imbalance. This is because life is multifaceted and no sphere of an individual’s life should be underrated at any point in time. While commitment to work serves as a paddle for career growth through key performance indicators, work-life balance should be a determination of success because good health, marriage, family, self-development, skill acquisition, rest, and recreation but to mention a few are constituents of work-life balance. Following the outbreak of the corona virus pandemic, the initial abnormal mode of doing things have now become the new normal and things may never return to their original state. The field of human resource must begin to map out plans in ensuring work-life balance in a boisterous world as this. The concept of work-life balance under the African context is a relatively emerging norm following the incidences of slavery and patriarchy. This paper analyzes the concept of work-life from a gender neutral perspective under Nigerian employment law and argues that while it may be difficult to have a codified legislation on work-life balance, legislations connected with work-life balance should be enacted as the society evolves in order to fill up the existing lacunas in the Nigerian legal framework on work-life balance.