EFFECT OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE: (Study on Employees of PT Bank Tabungan Negara Medan Branch Office Consumer Collection Recovery and Asset Sales Unit Division)

JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES, SOCIAL SCIENCES AND BUSINESS (JHSSB) EFFECT OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE (Study on Employees of PT Bank Tabungan Negara Medan Branch Office Consumer Collection Recovery and Asset Sales Unit Division) Selli Matakena1*, Ainun Mardhiyah2, Onan Marakali Siregar3 Business Administration Study Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara E-mail: 1) , 2) , 3) 1,2 Abstract This study examines the influence of work-life balance and emotional intelligence on employee performance within PT State Savings Bank's Medan Branch Office Consumer Collection Recovery and Asset Sales Unit Division, employing a quantitative research approach. The 61 employees in this division serve as the study's population, selected using a nonprobability sampling technique with a saturated sample model. Data collection involves primary methods like observation, interviews, and questionnaires, supplemented by secondary data gathered through library research. Through a series of analytical procedures, including validity and reliability tests, classic assumption tests, multiple linear analysis, and hypothesis testing, the research reveals that both work-life balance and emotional intelligence have significant individual effects on employee performance. Furthermore, when considered collectively, these variables exhibit a substantial influence on employee performance, as indicated by an R value of 0.885 or 88.5%. The adjusted R Square value shows that work-life balance and emotional intelligence can account for 77.6% of the variance in employee performance, while the remaining 22.4% is influenced by unexamined factors. Keywords: Emotional Intelligence, Employee Performance, Work-Life Balance 1. INTRODUCTION One of the most critical and vital assets of any organization is its human resources. A company cannot function effectively without a competent workforce. As posited by Mardhiyah (2022), the success of an organization hinges on the quality of the performance of its human resources, both at the individual and team levels. Even though an organization may be equipped with resources, infrastructure, and other assets, the absence of a dependable human resource base may hinder the successful execution of its operations. The higher the level of employee performance, the closer the alignment with the organizational goals. Work-life balance represents an equilibrium between an employee's professional and personal life aspects, contributing to a comfortable state of physical, psychological, and emotional balance. Work-life balance serves as a means to alleviate conflicts arising from imbalanced dual roles. Consequently, it is incumbent upon organizations to establish policies that promote work-life balance. However, employees also bear the responsibility of balancing their roles and conducting themselves professionally to ensure that work-life balance is effectively realized. In a preliminary study conducted on the work-life balance of employees at PT Bank Tabungan Negara's Medan Branch Office, 43.5% of employees were unable to engage in activities outside of working hours, and they felt unable to distribute responsibilities between their families and work in an equitable manner. Furthermore, 19.6% of employees reported job dissatisfaction and a lack of contentment with their job and JHSSB | VOLUME 3 NO. 1 (2023) https://ojs.transpublika.com/index.php/JHSSB/ E-ISSN: 2810-0832 283 THE EFFECT OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE Selli Matakena, Ainun Mardhiyah, & Onan Marakali Siregar achievements. In a related preliminary study regarding employee emotional intelligence, 18% of employees experienced difficulties in controlling their emotions and managing negative impulses that could impede job completion. The imbalance in employees' lives and the challenges related to emotional intelligence can adversely affect employee performance. An observation of employees at Bank BTN's Medan Branch reveals that the company sets specific performance targets for each employee, both at the individual and team levels. Every employee is expected to meet these targets to maintain a high level of performance with satisfactory outcomes. High work demands, as manifested in target setting, often necessitate employees to work beyond their regular hours. Employees in the Consumer Collection Recovery and Asset Sales Unit frequently work beyond regular working hours, extending beyond 5:00 PM and even working on non-business days. One of the causes for overtime or working outside of regular hours is the excessive workload and the pressure to achieve monthly targets. The high job demands lead to employees spending more time in the office and focused on work-related matters, thus disturbing their work-life balance. Elevated job stress may result from these high work demands, which has the potential to impact employees' emotions. Therefore, emotional intelligence is crucial for managing and regulating emotions effectively, ensuring that employees maintain optimal performance and motivation in their roles. In this study, the research aims to examine the relationship between work-life balance and emotional intelligence and how these two factors contribute to enhancing employee performance in attaining the business targets established by PT Bank Tabungan Negara. The rationale for selecting work-life balance and emotional intelligence as critical variables for investigation, as opposed to other variables within PT Bank Tabungan Negara, is due to the substantial influence of these two variables on employees' work lives, which is readily discernible. Based on the observations conducted, the level of work-life balance among employees remains low, as does the stability and proficiency in emotional intelligence. Problems associated with work-life balance and emotional intelligence can impact other variables that influence employee performance and, consequently, directly affect employee performance. Moreover, the primary objective of this study is to investigate and analyze the impact of work-life balance and emotional intelligence on employee performance at PT Bank Tabungan Negara's Medan Branch, as well as to comprehend how the equilibrium between work and personal life, along with emotional management, influences their ability to achieve the company's established business targets. Furthermore, this research aspires to offer insights and practical recommendations that can assist organizations in enhancing employee performance through a better understanding of these pivotal factors. 2. LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1. Work-Life Balance Work-life balance, or the balance between life and work, refers to a state in which individuals can manage and allocate their responsibilities between their work, family life, and other commitments without creating conflicts between family life and career. Handayani (2013) defines work-life ba (...truncated)