Abstract
This study examined employees’ perceptions of the impact of workplace mentoring (WM) on work-life balance (WLB) in the insurance sector in Guangzhou, China. A qualitative, cross-sectional design was employed to investigate employees lived experiences and views of mentoring relationships and their contribution to maintaining a balance between professional and personal responsibilities. Purposive sampling was used to select 30 insurance-sector employees with direct experience of WM. Primary data were gathered through semi-structured, face-to-face interviews conducted between March and May 2025. The interviews were conducted in Mandarin Chinese and explored employees’ experiences of WM, emotional support, workplace advice, and boundary management. The data were analysed using inductive coding and thematic analysis. Data saturation was reached by the 27th interview; three further interviews confirmed that no new significant themes emerged. Four main themes were identified. WM was perceived as a source of emotional and psychological support, practical guidance on time and boundary management, increased confidence and reduced work-related stress, and a reciprocal relationship that enhanced overall well-being. The findings showed that WM helped employees manage workplace pressure and organise their workloads. However, the findings also indicated that the effectiveness of mentoring depended on the quality and nature of the mentoring relationship, as negative mentoring experiences could contribute to emotional exhaustion and work-life conflict. The study concluded that supportive and well-organised mentoring relationships have the potential to promote employees’ WLB and overall workplace well-being in the Chinese insurance industry.
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