Work-Life Balance of Medical Doctors: Narratives from Algerian Public Hospitals

Abstract

The configuration of work and non-work domains has metamorphosed over the last few decades. Today employees encounter a wide array of daily challenges, which often cause an imbalance between their work and non-work domains. As a topical global issue, work-life balance (WLB) is a struggle for both employees and employers across the world. However, this study investigates the perceptions and realities of work-life balance among medical doctors working in public hospitals in Algeria. It also assesses the challenges they encounter in seeking ways to better manage the tensions between their work-related responsibilities and their personal life commitments and activities in the Algerian context. Additionally, the study investigates the coping strategies they use to manage their work-life balance. Furthermore, this study examines the role of policymakers in helping them achieve that desired balance. To the best of the researcher’s knowledge, this issue is underexplored, and no research has examined issues of work-life balance of medical doctors in Algerian public hospitals. Most of the existing research on this topic was undertaken in the western and some West African context. Therefore, this exploratory study aims to add novel information on work-life balance within the Algerian milieu as a contribution to the existing related body of knowledge. To achieve this objective, this study uses a qualitative research methodology. As a qualitative data collection strategy, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 63 doctors (male and female) working in public hospitals in five different regions in Algeria. The sample was heterogeneous in terms of marital status, age, and the number of dependents. The thematic method was applied to analyse the data collected, which supplied important themes used to guide the discussion of the findings of the research. This thesis makes two significant contributions to this field of research, based on its findings. Firstly, the study initiates a new body of literature on work-life balance in the Algerian context and presents the coping strategies adopted by medical doctors working in public hospitals in Algeria. Secondly, the findings of this research have added a valuable expansion of the work-family border theory (Clark, 2000) by presenting another border besides work and family spheres termed the religious life border. The work-religious life balance is adjoined to the border theory model to reinforce the work of border strength, central participation, border control and management. The related body of knowledge confirmed that religion supports central participation in work and non-work spheres. These study findings will serve as a resource for managers to adopt a new way of dealing with employees that includes providing them with moral support, and be mindful and attentive to their religious wellbeing, and more so, during the implementation of the work-life balance initiatives to improve job satisfaction. Also, the findings of this study give an important perception of the underexplored reality of work-life balance experiences in Algeria. Therefore, this study is responsible for providing an opportunity and much-needed awareness about work and non-work spheres of male and female medical doctors working in public hospitals in Algeria and provides realistic and achievable recommendations for the Algerian government and policymakers.