Exploring the link between work-life balance and corporate financial performance across legal traditions

Abstract In this study, we examine the impact of work-life balance (WLB) on corporate financial performance (CFP) in a cross-national context, using employee reviews from Glassdoor.com for companies in various industries across 19 European countries between 2009 and 2021. We applied regression analy...

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Main Authors: Ahmad Maraqa, Josep M. Argiles-Bosch, Yuliya Kasperskaya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-06-01
Series:Discover Sustainability
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01404-5
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author Ahmad Maraqa
Josep M. Argiles-Bosch
Yuliya Kasperskaya
author_facet Ahmad Maraqa
Josep M. Argiles-Bosch
Yuliya Kasperskaya
author_sort Ahmad Maraqa
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In this study, we examine the impact of work-life balance (WLB) on corporate financial performance (CFP) in a cross-national context, using employee reviews from Glassdoor.com for companies in various industries across 19 European countries between 2009 and 2021. We applied regression analysis to test the link between WLB and CFP and found a positive impact on CFP, as indicated by return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE). Furthermore, we found that civil versus common law traditions do not have a noticeable effect on the efficacy of WLB in improving CFP. This challenges the expectation that civil-law countries would have a more pronounced effect than those with a common-law tradition. Our study contributes to employee-wellbeing literature by examining the impact of work-life balance on firm financial performance in a cross-national context. Additionally, we add to the law and finance literature by examining the institutional factor and how it affects the relationship between employee welfare and firm performance. The current debate in the law and finance literature mainly focuses on the protection of investors as governed by legal rules. Our study sheds light on how similar mechanisms relate to the welfare of other stakeholders.
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spelling doaj-art-d4a3d1be22cf4e168b6dac35cc737e772025-08-20T02:39:44ZengSpringerDiscover Sustainability2662-99842025-06-016111610.1007/s43621-025-01404-5Exploring the link between work-life balance and corporate financial performance across legal traditionsAhmad Maraqa0Josep M. Argiles-Bosch1Yuliya Kasperskaya2Department of Business, University of Barcelona ESDepartment of Business, University of Barcelona ESDepartment of Business, University of Barcelona ESAbstract In this study, we examine the impact of work-life balance (WLB) on corporate financial performance (CFP) in a cross-national context, using employee reviews from Glassdoor.com for companies in various industries across 19 European countries between 2009 and 2021. We applied regression analysis to test the link between WLB and CFP and found a positive impact on CFP, as indicated by return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE). Furthermore, we found that civil versus common law traditions do not have a noticeable effect on the efficacy of WLB in improving CFP. This challenges the expectation that civil-law countries would have a more pronounced effect than those with a common-law tradition. Our study contributes to employee-wellbeing literature by examining the impact of work-life balance on firm financial performance in a cross-national context. Additionally, we add to the law and finance literature by examining the institutional factor and how it affects the relationship between employee welfare and firm performance. The current debate in the law and finance literature mainly focuses on the protection of investors as governed by legal rules. Our study sheds light on how similar mechanisms relate to the welfare of other stakeholders.https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01404-5Corporate financial performanceCorporate social responsibilityLegal traditionWork-life balance
spellingShingle Ahmad Maraqa
Josep M. Argiles-Bosch
Yuliya Kasperskaya
Exploring the link between work-life balance and corporate financial performance across legal traditions
Discover Sustainability
Corporate financial performance
Corporate social responsibility
Legal tradition
Work-life balance
title Exploring the link between work-life balance and corporate financial performance across legal traditions
title_full Exploring the link between work-life balance and corporate financial performance across legal traditions
title_fullStr Exploring the link between work-life balance and corporate financial performance across legal traditions
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the link between work-life balance and corporate financial performance across legal traditions
title_short Exploring the link between work-life balance and corporate financial performance across legal traditions
title_sort exploring the link between work life balance and corporate financial performance across legal traditions
topic Corporate financial performance
Corporate social responsibility
Legal tradition
Work-life balance
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01404-5
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