What is life-work balance & why is it important in 2025?
We avoid the conventional phrase “work-life balance” because it places work first. Our chosen term, life-work balance, highlights that life comes before work and that employment should enrich rather than eclipse it. Life-work balance is not solely about hours spent at the office or free time left over; it’s more complex. For that reason, our study builds a rounded picture of what it means to live and work well across different regions. We also recognise that life-work balance lacks a universal definition — it varies by person and culture. Our goal is not to generalise but to map statutory benefits and workplace practices that support strong life-first policies worldwide. Globally, life-work balance is essential to physical and mental wellbeing. Everyone should have sufficient time and autonomy to participate meaningfully in life beyond work.
“Promoting life-work balance recognises that work supports life rather than defining it. At Remote, our Global Life-Work Balance study does more than rank countries; it echoes our belief that people deliver their best when trusted to live fully outside of work as well as within it. We champion life-work balance because flexibility and wellbeing are substantive, not merely perks. Our mission is to create a future where global talent thrives professionally and personally.” — Barbara Matthews, Chief People Officer
Why life-work balance matters more than ever
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.
Why has life-work balance become non-negotiable in today’s work environment?
Employees demand flexibility. In our recent Remote Workforce Report, 73% of hiring leaders reported losing staff to firms offering greater flexibility.
The boundaries are blurred. The broad uptake of hybrid and remote work brings benefits but can make it harder for employees to disconnect.
We live in an always-on culture. Technology expands possibilities, but expectations for near-constant responsiveness have risen.
Economic uncertainty is widespread. With rising living costs globally, many people overwork to remain competitive and secure in their roles.
Parental demands are taking a toll. Almost three-quarters of the global workforce carry caregiving responsibilities alongside their careers.
AI has introduced additional stress. While AI can increase efficiency, it also raises concerns about redundancy and the pressure to keep skills current.
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.
If left unaddressed, these trends will erode the talent pool and weaken workforce resilience in the years ahead.
Life-Work Balance Index survey methodology
As specialists in global HR and employment, we analysed data for the world’s top 60 GDP countries to determine which jurisdictions provide the strongest life-work balance. The top 60 GDP countries were chosen as a representative 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)
The objective was to represent each country’s life-work balance accurately, reframing “work-life balance” to emphasise how employers support 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. All data points were ranked from highest to lowest, except the healthcare rating (ranked out of five, with one being best), and average weekly hours and safety score, which were ranked from lowest to best.
The data were pulled and analysed in April 2025.
(*) When a range was reported, the minimum value was used.
