What does life-work balance mean, and why will it matter in 2025?
We discard the conventional label “work-life balance” because, both literally and conceptually, it reads backwards. We use life-work balance to make clear that life takes priority and work should enrich, not eclipse, it. Life-work balance is not merely a tally of hours spent at work or the remaining time available for personal pursuits. The idea is more complex than that. For this reason, our study aims to present a holistic account of what living and working well looks like across different regions. Naturally, life-work balance has no single global definition — it will mean something different for each person and within each culture. Our purpose is not to generalise, but to outline the principal statutory benefits and workplace systems worldwide that strengthen a culture of strong life-work balance. Around the world, life-work balance remains essential to our physical and emotional wellbeing. Everyone should have the time and freedom to participate meaningfully in life beyond work.
“Championing life-work balance recognises that work should enable life rather than define it. At Remote, the Global Life-Work Balance study is more than a comparative table — it reflects our core conviction that people do their best when trusted to live fully outside the workplace as well as inside it. We support life-work balance because flexibility and wellbeing are not mere perks. Our mission is to create a future where global talent thrives both professionally and personally.” — Barbara Matthews, Chief People Officer
Why life-work balance is increasingly vital
For the first time, life-work balance is the top motivator for employees globally, with workplace flexibility ranking above salary in a recent survey of thousands of international workers.
What explains life-work balance becoming non-negotiable in today’s working environment?
Employees expect greater flexibility. In our latest Remote Workforce Report, 73% of hiring leaders reported losing employees to companies offering greater flexibility.
Boundaries between work and life are increasingly blurred. The broad uptake of hybrid and remote work brings many benefits, yet it can make it harder for employees to disconnect.
An always-on culture is now commonplace. Technology has widened our possibilities, yet expectations for 24/7 responsiveness have grown.
Economic uncertainty affects many regions. Amid escalating living costs worldwide, many employees are overworking to remain relevant and feel secure in their roles.
Parental demands are increasing the strain. Almost three-quarters of the global workforce have some form of caregiving responsibility to balance alongside a career.
AI is adding pressure. While AI can help us work more efficiently, it also heightens fears of redundancy and increases the need for ongoing skill development.
Our findings show countries such as New Zealand and many European nations support employees with policies that prioritise life; by contrast, countries like the United States risk widespread burnout if long hours and limited paid leave continue to prevail.
Without decisive action, this trajectory will deplete the talent pool and undermine the workforce’s future resilience.
Life-Work Balance Index methodology for the survey
As a leading authority in global HR and employment, we analysed index data from the world’s top 60 GDP countries to identify which jurisdictions provide employees the strongest life-work balance. The top 60 GDP countries were chosen as the global sample. The study examined the following indicators:
Statutory annual leave (total days of paid leave, including public holidays)*
Minimum statutory sick pay (percent of wage, or a flat amount)*
Statutory maternity leave (weeks paid)*
Statutory maternity leave payment rate (percent of wage)*
Minimum wage (USD per hour)*
Healthcare status
Happiness index score (1–10, 10 being highest)
Average hours per week per employed person
LGBTQ+ Inclusivity (0–100, 100 being highest to reflect the Legal Index scores the legal rights and freedoms LGBTQ+ people have, while the Public Opinion Index scores how the general public feels in each region)
Safety: Global Peace Index (1–4, lower is better)
Our objective was to portray each country’s life-work balance precisely, reframing the familiar notion of “work-life balance” to highlight how employers in each jurisdiction safeguard employees’ lives and prioritise life over work.
We applied index weights to the metrics to reflect their relative importance, producing an overall score out of 100 for each country. Data points are ranked from highest to lowest, except the healthcare rating (ranked out of five, with one being best) and the average hours worked per week and safety score, which are ranked from lowest to highest.
Data were pulled and analysed in April 2025.
(*) When a range was offered, the minimum amount was listed.
