Title: Work-life balance as a mediator of the relationship between perceived organisational support and employee well-being in the hotel industry

Authors: Anjali Rai; A.K. Kranthi; Mendemu Showry

Addresses: Department of OB and HR, ICFAI Business School (IBS), ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education (IFHE), Hyderabad, India ' Department of OB and HR, ICFAI Business School (IBS), ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education (IFHE), Hyderabad, India ' Department of OB and HR, ICFAI Business School (IBS), ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education (IFHE), Hyderabad, India

Abstract: Employee well-being is an important determinant of the hotel industry's success, influencing individual performance and organisational outcomes. This study investigates the antecedents that enhance employee well-being in the hotel sector. This research proposes perceived organisational support (POS) and work-life balance (WLB) as antecedents that affect well-being. High levels of POS are essential for fostering employee well-being, as they reduce stress, enhance job satisfaction, and improve hotel industry performance. To achieve this research objective, data were collected from 305 full-time employees in the Indian hotel industry. Structural equation modelling and bootstrapping procedures assessed the hypothesised relationships between POS, WLB, and well-being. This study posits that WLB acts as a mediator, wherein employees who perceive strong organisational support are more likely to achieve a pleasant balance between their work and individual lives, resulting in greater well-being. Findings from this research contribute to academic work on employee well-being and highlight the significance of POS in creating work environments that support work-life balance. Additionally, these insights provide hospitality managers with evidence-based strategies to implement supportive practices that enhance employee well-being and foster a more effective workforce in the hotel industry.

Keywords: work-life balance; WLB; perceived organisational support; POS; employee well-being; hotel industry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWOE.2026.153682

International Journal of Work Organisation and Emotion, 2026 Vol.17 No.1/2/3, pp.319 - 339

Received: 18 Nov 2024
Accepted: 20 May 2025
Published online: 21 May 2026 *

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