Improving employee work performance is a priority for every organisation, recognising individuals as key contributors to outcomes. Quality of work life (QWL) has emerged as vital for organisational functionality, encompassing initiatives to enhance the work environment and elevate employee well-being. Consequently, QWL has garnered significant attention in academic circles. This study aims to analyse global research trends in QWL and its impact on employee performance, examining publication outputs, countries, collaborations, and citations. Employing Marasco’s (2008) four-phase bibliographic review method, the research reviews QWL and employee job performance publications from 1974 to 2023, yielding 494 publications from the Scopus database. Utilising reputable bibliometric measures, the study explores influential institutions and journals. Additionally, VOSviewer aids in visualising science mapping analysis, while keyword co-occurrence analysis identifies emerging trends. Co-authorship and citation networks elucidate connections among studies. The findings underscore the academic and practical significance of QWL research, offering recommendations to address potential journal challenges and identifying areas for future exploration. This research contributes to the advancement of QWL studies, identifying avenues for further investigation and enhancing understanding within the field.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21863/jshrm/2025.14.1.002