Work–Life Balance in the Hospitality Industry: A Systematic Literature Review with Special Reference to Indore

Abstract

Worklife balance is considered a major concern in today’s hospitality industry due to long working hours, unpredictable shifts, emotional labor, and high service standards. These challenges affect the employees' well-being, job satisfaction, staff productivity, and retention directly. The present study is an attempt to analyze thoroughly the available literature of work-life balance methods in the hotel industry with special reference to Indore, India. The strategy followed for this study was a systematic literature review (SLR) according to PRISMA criteria to identify, screen, and analyze relevant studies. In the first stage, 40 papers were retrieved from academic databases like Google Scholar and ResearchGate and peer-reviewed publications. Fifteen articles were selected for further study according to the inclusion criteria. The findings show that the major problems faced by hospitality workers are irregular working hours, excessive workload, and lack of assistance from the organization. The analysis further emphasizes the importance of human resource practices like flexible scheduling, counseling help, employee welfare programs, and supportive leadership in improving employee well-being and organizational commitment. The study also highlights the important research gaps, especially the lack of empirical studies on work-life balance practices in the hotel sector and women employees in Indore. The review shows that effective policies on work–life balance play a key role in enhancing employee satisfaction, preventing burnout, and ensuring sustained organizational performance in the hotel business. The study calls for more empirical and region-based research to develop practical and cost-effective initiatives for work–life balance in hospitality businesses.