Work–life balance supportive culture: a way to retain employees in Spanish SMEs

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine the availability of work–life balance (WLB) practices and the role of work–life balance supportive culture (WLBSC) in the retention of employees in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through job satisfaction and organisational commitment. The organisations are increasingly conscious that the companies’ competitive advantage rests upon the retention of their key employees. This study explores these relationships in SMEs with a sample of 290 employees from 134 companies of an industrial sector in Spain, using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM-PLS). The results reveal that the presence of a WLBSC is the principal determinant of job satisfaction, organisational commitment and reduced work–family conflict. In addition, there is strong evidence that job satisfaction and organisational commitment are strong determinants of turnover intentions. This article highlights the importance of the WLBSC and calls for organisational actions to develop a supportive culture to achieve a balance between work and personal life for their employees.