Abstract
Maintaining employee commitment is particularly important in palm oil mill operations, where shift work, physical demands, and limited career development opportunities may affect employees’ attachment to the organization. This study examines the influence of work-life balance and career development on the organizational commitment of operational employees at the Rimba Belian Palm Oil Mill Unit, Region 5, PT Perkebunan Nusantara IV. A quantitative associative design was employed, involving all 114 operational employees through a census approach. Data were collected using a five-point Likert-scale questionnaire and analyzed through multiple linear regression after completing instrument and classical assumption tests. The findings indicate that work-life balance and career development each have a positive and significant influence on organizational commitment. Both variables also jointly contribute significantly to strengthening employees’ commitment to the organization. Work-life balance showed a relatively stronger contribution, suggesting that employees’ ability to manage work demands and personal responsibilities is particularly important in a shift-based operational environment. This study extends the discussion of organizational commitment to the palm oil agro-industry, which remains less frequently examined than service and public-sector organizations. The findings imply that management should improve shift arrangements, rest periods, access to training, and the transparency of promotion and career development processes to maintain employees’ long-term commitment
