Work-life Balance Disclosure Practices of Listed Commercial Banks in Bangladesh

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the extent of work-life balance (WLB) disclosure in the annual reports of listed banks in Bangladesh. Methodology: The study used content analysis to explore the amount and nature of WLB information presented in the annual reports in the year 2023 of listed banks. The study specifically considered 25 items included in the Work-life Balance Index (WLBI). Findings: The study found that most Bangladeshi banks disclose minimal information about WLB. Maternity leave, which is a mandatory benefit, has been identified as the most disclosed item. On average, the banks only report around 5 items out of 25. Most of the banks do not disclose even the obligatory benefits. Practical Implications: The disclosure practices of the Bangladeshi banks indicate that only a few banks are aware of the significance of WLB disclosure. This finding may prompt banks to implement more WLB tools and report them accordingly. Originality/Value: The paper contributes to the literature on the disclosure of work-life balance information. It has investigated WLB disclosure specifically in the context of developing countries. The WLB index (WLBI) developed in this paper will help to determine the WLB disclosure level of any organization. This study provides new directions for the literature and may endorse comparative studies on WLB from different viewpoints. Limitations: The study only considers the annual report for content analysis and it includes the listed banks only as the sample. Besides, the paper examines only one year but the findings might change over time.